This piece was originally commissioned in 1995 by James Thompson, former principal trumpet of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Jim had played several of my quintets written for the ASO Brass Quintet and asked me to write something featuring trumpet and tuba with the intention of having his good friend, tuba phenom, Sam Palafian, as the tuba soloist. By the summer of 1996 I had completed three of the planned five movements. Jim wanted to premiere the piece and had secured Sam to play as part of a special concert during the lead up to the Summer Olympics in Atlanta that year. It took another eleven years to complete the other two movements and reorganize the piece to Jim’s preferences to play piccolo trumpet on the first movement then not have to play it again. Jim prefers the bigger horns, although he is a monster picc player.

My idea was to write something in the vein of Claude Bolling’s well-known “Toote Suite.” There are a variety of styles beginning with the opening movement that is a tonally modern, quazi-rock groove in triple meter that alternates with Baroque-like sections, hence the piccolo trumpet. Movement two is a march, and that’s all you need to know. Movement three is a solo tuba soliloquy and provides the trumpet player a much deserved rest. Movement four is my impression of an early 20-century cornet solo and movement five is a jazz piece, 12-bar blues, complete with written solos and chord changes for those who are comfortable improvising. It ends with a rollicking Dixieland section.

Jim premiered the full five movement complete version of the suite at the 2007 International Trumpet Guild Conference at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst). The tuba soloist was Andrew Hitz, formerly of the Boston Brass. The piece was well received and has remained one of my most popular works.

The piece is challenging for the trumpet soloist and requires the use of bb piccolo, C-trumpet, Bb cornet and Bb-trumpet, in that order. The tuba part is challenging but quite playable. I have actually played the piece myself, but quickly realized I am not Jim Thompson, LOL. Nevertheless, I found the piece fun to play and hopefully you will too.

Here is a recording of a performance from Feb 13, 2009 by Indiana University of PA trumpet professor, Dr. Kevin Eisensmith, performing the suite. Dr. Zack Collins is on tuba (IUP tuba prof.) and Mrs. Jaquelyn Keuhn (collaborative pianist at IUP) is on piano.

Mvt. 1

Mvt. 2

Mvt. 3

Mvt. 4

Mvt. 5

Solo Trumpet and Accompaniment

Sonata for Trumpet and Piano