Recordare - Danna
Eetu Ranta-aho
Recordare - Danna
Description
Recordare - Danna is a memorial piece for Danna Nelson.
Danna was an American bass trombonist who passed away in August 2022 at age 26. She had a rare type of cancer, rhabdomyosarcoma.
In her own words, she wanted to be remembered as someone who can always find the good in a bad situation, as a daughter whose parents were her best friends, as a fairly decent bass trombonist, as someone full of love.
Movement I is a meditation. In the end of the movement, there are two quotes: from the Recordare of Mozart's Requiem, and the opening of Beethoven's piano sonata no. 26 'Lebewohl'.
Movement II uses several recordings of Danna's playing in the tape part. All sounds apart from a steady bass drone are made from recordings of Danna's playing. Most of the recordings were taken by Danna herself with her phone in a practice room, casually playing. There are excertps from Daniel Schnyder's subZERO and Blair Bollinger's Abendreigen, as well as her warming up playing arpeggios.
I received the recordings from Danna's mother and her teacher Niklas Larsson. Danna's parents gave their permission to use the recordings in this piece.
The piece is written for Helsinki Trombone Quartet:
Nadja Hanhilahti
Mikko Marttila
Kasperi Sarikoski
Max Silfverberg
First performance: 29.7.2024 at Meidän Festivaali. The composition of the piece was generously supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation.
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Danna is missed and remembered by her family, friends, and everyone who knew her. May her beautiful memory never fade.
Instrumentation
3ttrb, btrb, tape
Category
Chamber Works
Premiere
Helsinki Trombone Quartet:(Nadja Hanhilahti, Mikko Marttila, Kasperi Sarikoski, Max Silfverberg) July 29, 2024, Meidän Festivaali, Tuusula, Finland
Movements
1. Meditation, 2. warm up goodbye
Commisioned by / dedications
Commissioned by the Helsinki Trombone Quartet. Dedicated to the memory of Danna Nelson.
