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.

------

Danna is missed and remembered by her family, friends, and everyone who knew her. May her beautiful memory never fade.

Instrumentation

3ttrb, btrb, tape

Instrument codes

Abbreviation	Instrument
Woodwind
acl	alto clarinet
afl	alto flute
arec	alto recorder
asax	alto saxophone
barsax	baritone saxophone
barhn	baritone horn
bcl	bass clarinet
bfl	bass flute
bob	bass oboe
bsax	bass saxophone
bsn	bassoon
cbsn	contrabassoon
cl	clarinet
ehn	English horn
fl	flute
hn	French horn
ob	oboe
pic	piccolo
rec	recorder
sax	saxophone
srec	soprano recorder
ssax	soprano saxophone
trec	tenor recorder
tsax	tenor saxophone
Brass
ahn	alto horn
atrb	altotrombone
barhn	baritone horn
btrb	bass trombone
cornet	cornet
euph	euphonium
fhn	flugelhorn
hn	French horn
tba	tuuba
thn	tenor horn
trb	trombone
trp	trumpet
Percussion
dr	drums
glock	glockenspiel
mar	marimba
perc	percussion
timp	timpani
vibr	vibraphone
xyl	xylophone
Strings
db	double bass
gamba	viola da gamba
str	strings
vla	viola
vlc	cello
vln	violin
Other
acc	accordion
cel	celesta
cemb	harpsichord
chords	chords
elbas	electric bass
elg	electric guitar
elorg	electric organ
elpno	electric piano
guit	guitar
harm	harmonium
hca	harmonica
hp	harp
instr	instrument
kantele	kantele
keyb	keyboard
live electr	live electronics
mand	mandolin
mel	melody
org	organ
pno	piano
synth	synthesizer
tape	tape
Vocal
alto	alto
baryt	baritone
basso	bass voice
ch	choir
chc	childrens choir
chf	female choir
chm	male choir
chx	mixed choir
cten	countertenor
mezzo	mezzo-soprano
sopr	soprano
speaker	speaker
ten	tenor
voc	vocal

Coding for instrument ensembles and orchestras

Symphony orchestra
2222 4331 11 1, str = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 French horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, one other percussionist, harp and strings
Wind band
2252 3 423 21212 3 = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 5 clarinets, 2 bassoons - 3 saxophones - 4 French horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones - 2 cornets, alto horn, 2 tenor horns, baritone horn, 2 tubas - 3 percussionists
Big band
221 4 4, pno, guit, db, dr = 2 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, baritone saxophone, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, guitar, double bass, drums
Additional codes
+	fl+pic = flutist doubles on piccolo
/	pno/org = can be played on either piano or organ
lib	ad libitum
obl	obligato
str	str: 65432 = specified number of string players
str min	str min: 65432 = at least 65432
str max	str max: 65432 = not more than 65432
solo	vln solo = violin is the solo instrument in a work not obviously for solo violin