[Trombone-l] Shilkret: Concerto for Trombone

[Clinton F. Nieweg]

A Reply about the availability from the copyright holder:

Niel Shell <NSXCC at CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU> wrote:

This email server may cease operation soon, at which time I will use the address nielshell at aol.com. Until then, mail will reach me sooner at this email address.

Three arrangements of Nathaniel Shilkret's "Concerto for Trombone" are available for rental: 
   
  (1) the full orchestra arrangement recreated from the original Stokowski-Dorsey performance parts; 
  (2) a small orchestra arrangement, with the solo split between trombone and piano; and 
  (3) a band arrangement. 
   
  A fourth arrangement, for a full orchestra, with the
solo split between trombone and piano, exists but is not yet available.
  
Nathaniel Shilkret had also written derivative works, based on the concerto.
All arrangements were made by Nathaniel Shilkret. No solo/piano reduction is available at this time. The solo part and score are made available as part of rental agreements.

Rental agreements are made with me, and the scores and parts are shipped (and returned to) Bryan Free, who recently retired as Associate Principal Trombonist with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.

I think the easiest way to have found the contact information for me
was through ASCAP or Harry Fox Agency.
  
The "Concerto for Trombone" was commissioned by Tommy Dorsey and completed in early 1942, with the original intent being for Nat Shilkret to conduct the premiere. Between Nat's busy schedule as a music director at MGM and Tommy's extensive traveling, the two could never get together. Dorsey premiered the piece in February 1945, under the direction of Leopold Stokowski, at New York City Center. Stokowski performed the concerto again at the
Hollywood Bowl in the summer of 1942, with (then Sergeant) Hoyt Bohannon as soloist. Tommy had asked for more time to breathe, and Nat rearranged the composition, splitting the solo between trombone and piano, using a small orchestra of about six strings and percussion. 
  Plans were set for Nat to conduct Tommy, with Jose Iturbi at piano, at the Victor studios in 1946. However, Tommy signed a Decca-exclusive contract, and Nat eventually recorded the chamber orchestra arrangement with Wilbur Bradley and Leonard Pennario as soloists. The recording was never released, but
it still exists. A portion of the third movement was aired on KABC in Los Angeles in 1956. A derivative work of the first movement, called "The Crazy Cool Musician In Between" was written and aired in the early 1950s.

Jim Pugh, under the direction of the late Skitch Henderson, re-premiered the full orchestra arrangement of the concerto in January 2003. Jim played the world premiere of the band arrangement of 2nd and 3rd movements of the concerto, under the direction of Peter Boor, with two performances in July 2003.
Jim made the premiere live performance of the small orchestra arrangement at two colleges in March 2004. 
  Jim made the world premiere performance of the full three movements of the band arrangement in October 2004, with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Mark Scatterday.
Jim followed this with a performance of the band arrangement with the United States Army Band in March 2005. The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Dance performed the band arrangement this year.

Incidentally, the website biographical information is not quite correct:the name on Nat's birth certificate is "Natan Sch\"uldkraut" (I think the "Natan" was an error and "Nathan" was intended. Nat was born on December 25, 1889 in Manhattan, not in 1899 in Queens.)

Thank you for your interest in the work of Nathaniel Shilkret.

Best regards,
Niel Shell
Nathaniel Shilkret Music Company
632 Smith Street
Franklin Square, NY 11010
212-650-5116
 e-mail NSXCC at CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU
  or  nielshell at aol.com

   
   

 				
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