Dancing Light for Trombone Quartet

Instrumentation: Trombone Quartet

Duration: 4’30”

Purchase (through IMBrassWorks)

Program Notes:

Dancing Light is a rhythmic and shimmering composition for trombone quartet. The title refers to a magical spell in Dungeons and Dragons used to create glowing orbs that illuminate the darkness, inspiring the combination of bouncy movement and bright harmonies found in the piece. Though a rhythmic groove is at the heart of the musical material, a cluster motif lights up the introduction of the piece and returns throughout to shed light on the path ahead.

Dancing Light was written for the Blue Ridge Trombone Quartet and a consortium of 26 other quartets in 2023, acting as a companion to my other high fantasy-inspired work for trombone choir ‘Through the Vaulting Skies’.

Commissioned by:

  • Dr. Drew Leslie, Blue Ridge Trombone Quartet (Consortium Director)
  • Dr. Donald Babcock, Eastern Michigan University
  • Dr. Mark E. Britt, Furman University
  • Dan Casillo, Boneyard Trombone Ensemble
  • Daniel J. Cosio, University of Colorado-Boulder
  • James T. Decker, Texas Tech University
  • Dr. Óscar Díaz, Jr., Texas A&M-Kingsville
  • Stephen Farrell, Interservice Trombone Quartet
  • Bill Haugeberg, University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley
  • Vicente Hernandez, Carnegie Mellon University
  • Vince Hernandez, North County Winds
  • Professor David Jackson, University of Michigan
  • Dr. Li Kuang, Portland State University
  • Dr. Drew Leslie, Colorado State University
  • Dr. Robert Lindahl, Central Michigan University
  • Dr. Karen Marston, Empress Trombone Quartet
  • Dr. Ben Mcllwain, University of Southern Mississippi
  • James Nova, Pittsburgh Symphony/Duquesne University
  • John Ohnstad, Big Horn Brass/Rose City Trombones
  • Dr. Louis Setzer, Northern Kentucky University
  • Dr. Nick Sullivan, University of Lethbridge
  • Patrick C. Sullivan, Bone Yard Music/Rocket City Bones
  • Dr. Sterling Tanner, University of Colorado-Boulder
  • Dr. Justin Waller, East Tennessee State University
  • Chase West, Southern Arkansas University
  • Dr. Michael Wilkinson, University of South Carolina
  • Dr. Steve Wolfinbarger, Western Michigan University
  • Dr. Russ Zokaites, California State University-Fresno