Description

Madrigale in 12 parts

for Three Trombones
Duration ca. 10′

by Edward Caine

Madrigale in 12 parts  is one of a succession of pieces which divide up the Italian renaissance chanson “madre non mi far monica” into pitch sets from which the material is derived. The other pieces are Madrigale II: Qu’est devein ce bel oeil and Madrigale III for solo Violoncello.

This experimental piece aimed to take apart the process of performing on the trombone and use each element as a separate instrument in itself as part of the overall texture. The idea was that each trombonist would perform three separate lines of counterpoint.

The result was too tricky to perform, and some elements of performance got in the way of others when some of the ideas were workshopped. It is my fond hope that someone will try and perform this one day but for the minute it remains here as a curio for interested trombone virtuosi and perhaps for revision at a later date.