Master Repertoire · Audition Vault · Concert Pitch 440/442Hz
Trombone Master Solos & Orchestral Excerpts Vault
Four canonical classical concertos and premier orchestral audition excerpts annotated with kinematics, breathing cues, and acoustic partial shifts.
I. Classical Solo Masterworks
19th & 20th Century Premier Trombone Concertos
4 Full-Movement Performance Editions
E-flat Major (3 flats)
Ferdinand David Trombone Concertino in E-flat Major, Op. 4 - Allegro Maestoso
Ferdinand David (1810-1873) · Early Romantic Era (Leipzig, 1837)
Kinematics & Acoustic Notes:
Mandatory Round 1 solo for Berlin Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony auditions. Evaluates clean Bb4/C5 attacks at mm. 1–16, athletic slide control across arpeggios, and instant tenor clef literacy without pencil marks.
Seamless real-time sight-reading across Bass and Tenor clefsHigh register stability and centered resonance on G4, Bb4, and C5Short-slide strategy utilizing 4th and 5th alternate positions for rapid arpeggios
E-flat minor to E-flat Major
Alexandre Guilmant Morceau Symphonique, Op. 88 - Complete Solo
Alexandre Guilmant (1837-1911) · Late French Romantic (Paris, 1902)
Kinematics & Acoustic Notes:
A universal competition and audition showcase that tests contrasting lyrical cantabile breath control alongside crisp, rhythmic articulation in the Allegro vivace.
Organ-like seamless slide legato in the opening Andante sostenutoCadenza dynamic pacing across two-and-a-half octave leapsRhythmic motor drive and crisp tonguing in the Allegro vivace
D-flat Major (5 flats)
Camille Saint-Saëns Cavatine for Trombone and Piano, Op. 144
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) · Late French Romantic (Algiers, 1915)
Kinematics & Acoustic Notes:
The ultimate benchmark for upper-register endurance and high Db5 purity. Demands flawless control of the harmonic series in tricky flat keys.
Flawless precision on the stratospheric high Db5 and C5Intonation and rapid slide mapping across D-flat Major (5 flats)Silken vocal lyricism in the flowing 3/8 Andantino
F minor / F Major
Launy Grøndahl Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra - I. Moderato Assai
Launy Grøndahl (1886-1960) · 20th-Century Nordic (Italy/Denmark, 1924)
Kinematics & Acoustic Notes:
A top-tier choice for European and American orchestra principal auditions. Demands raw dynamic power, declamatory majesty, and expressive color shifts.
Explosive opening declaration with laser-sharp front articulationWarm, lyrical color shift in the Dolce espressivo secondary themePitch compensation with straight mute (compensating for sharp intonation)
C Major
Nino Rota Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra - I. Allegro Giusto
Nino Rota (1911-1979) · 20th-Century Neoclassical (Italy, 1966)
Kinematics & Acoustic Notes:
A staple in international competitions and graduate auditions, testing agility, expressive phrasing, and seamless register transitions across the entire horn.
Effortless sparkling staccato without heaviness or sluggishnessRapid scalar agile slide flicking between 1st and 3rd positionsBel canto phrasing with tasteful jaw/slide vibrato in the lyrical theme
F Major (1 flat)
Bordogni / Rochut Melodious Etudes for Trombone - Book 1, No. 1
Marco Bordogni / arr. Joannes Rochut · Bel Canto Vocalise / Paris & Boston (1928)
Kinematics & Acoustic Notes:
Required in virtually every orchestral audition and college jury to assess pure vocal beauty of tone, legato purity, and breath connection across the horn.
Flawless blend of cross-grain natural lip slurs and subtle legato tonguing ('Dah')Continuous, uninterrupted air support carrying the singing line'Quick Slide, Slow Breath' physical rule to prevent scooping
II. Orchestral Audition Core Vault
Standard audition excerpts for Berlin, Vienna, Boston & global orchestras
Audition Requirement · 1st Trombone · Section Principal
Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 3 (1st Mvt Solo)
Majestic B♭ major fanfare requiring ten measures of deep diaphragmatic support. Dynamic projection spanning pedal to high registers.
Key Shift: 1st ⇄ 4th Rapid Transition · Physical Support: Extreme
High-Register Summit · Tenor Trombone High D5
Maurice Ravel: Boléro (Trombone Solo)
Legendary high D♭5 and C5 summit requiring 5th-position micro-tuning and -14 cent major third compensation with sultry jazz tone.
Slide: High 5th ⇄ 2nd Position · Partial Offset: -14 cents
Solemn Sacred Chant · 2nd Trombone Audition
W. A. Mozart: Requiem (Tuba Mirum Solo)
Sacred classical trombone tone requiring bell-like clarity, F-attachment transitions, and zero breath artifacts.
F-Attachment: Seamless Valve Engagement · Tone Clarity: 100% Pure
Section Powerhouse · Full Trombone Section Tutti
Richard Wagner: Ride of the Valkyries
Powerful fff tutti brass statement requiring dotted-rhythm precision and absolute pitch centering at high acoustic volumes.
Dynamic Range: fff · Dotted Precision: ±2 ms
Ready to Advance · Master Orchestral Excellence
Includes millimeter slide position annotations, breath marks, intonation charts, and full conductor study scores.