Ballade

Bozza (1905-1991) was a brilliant student at the Paris Conservatoire, winning prizes for the Violin, conducting and composing, as well as the Grand Prix de Rome. He predominantly composed chamber music for wind, but his solo works for the instruments are also held in high esteem, such as his Ballade for trombone and piano. This Bozza piece was originally composed for conservatoire students, displaying the technical skills as well as musicality of the soloist. There is no formal structure to Ballade, however, the many changes in tempo provide variety throughout. With no distinct musical theme unifying the music, it is interesting to note that much of the material of Bozza's Ballade is extracted from orchestral excerpts. Ballade is an ideal performance piece for advanced trombonists.