Lyricism comes at a price
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Rachel Einarsson2 min read|29. February 2024
It is not that there are no works with the trombone in front. But they have simply never become very popular for one reason or another, says Bo Holten. And the choice is also quite modest. So modest that Jesper Busk Sørensen had to ask for a new one.
“We need a concerto for trombone. Something melodic and easy to understand,” says Jesper Busk Sørensen, who calls for the trombone to get more chances to show off the warm sides of its tonal ability too.
Now he gets his wish at Musikkens Hus in Aalborg on Thursday evening. Here you can also experience three Danes who have likewise made their breakthrough on the international classical music scene. Thomas Søndergaard, music director of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, stands in front of Aalborg Symfoniorkester and steers the musicians through Bo Holten's new work. And the soloist is Jesper Busk Sørensen, who has played in Die Berliner Philharmoniker since 2009. Now he drops by Aalborg, where the new work in three movements awaits its first performance.
But why did Jesper Busk Sørensen choose Bo Holten? “It comes from the fact that he has written music for Den Danske Basunkvartet before, where I also play,” he says. And it was so successful that the choice was not difficult. Only one demand brought Jesper Busk Sørensen into the deal: that the music should be melodic and not mysterious avant-garde.
“It is an awkward instrument,” says Jesper Busk Sørensen frankly about his trombone, “because it is difficult to play fast. That is why solo pieces for trombone often become a matter of muscle rather than the warm, lyrical side being cultivated,” he says. “I would like to show the many warm colours and some of the fine sides of my instrument, which are overlooked qualities of the trombone,” he says. “And then I also like playing softly,” he adds about yet another overlooked nuance of the trombone.
The new work thus offers catchy and fairly recognisable melodies. But it will not necessarily be pure relaxation for the soloist. The new work thus offers catchy and fairly recognisable melodies. But it will not necessarily be pure relaxation for the soloist.
Read the rest of the preview at Klassisk bureau: https://klassiskbureau.com/lyrikken-er-dyrek-bt