Elizabeth Raum

Olomouc Concerto

The idea for the Olmütz Concerto was suggested by my husband, Richard, himself a trombone player and musicologist. When pursuing research in Olomouc, Czechoslovakia (formerly Olmütz, Moravia) he came across an article written by the well known Czech musicologist Jiri Sehnal. The article mentions a music catalogue (c.1769- 77) which came from the library of Maximilian Hamilton, Bishop of Olmütz, and contained thematic incipits, two measures in length, of three early classical trombone concertos. As all three concertos were anonymous and the manuscripts were no longer extant, Richard suggested that I compose a three movement concerto based on these themes in the classical style for the alto trombone. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation then commissioned me to write the concerto for the Swedish trombone virtuoso, Christian Lindberg. Each of the three movements is developed entirely from its respective incipit in order to maintain the original musical ideas of the 18th century composers. Therefore, the movements are monothematic but are rigorously developed in the traditional classical style. The first movement, Allegro moderato, is a quasi sonata allegro form; the second, Andante amabile, is a theme and variations; and the finale, Allegro con spirito, is a rondo in which the climax of the movement is a fugue.