L to R - Mercedes Smith, Tim Maynard, Jack Westmoreland, Mark Fry, and Aubrey Tucker at Buzz Smith Studios, Houston TX

David Schrader and Mark Fry at St. Giles Episcopal Church, Niles IL

Mark Fry in Herrick Chapel at Judson University, Elgin IL

Flaming Angel - Music for Bass Trombone 


Johann Immanuel Mueller (1774 - 1839) - Praeludium, Chorale, Variations and Fugue (1839)

Karl Pilß (1902 - 1979) - Concerto for bass trombone (1974)

  1. Allegro Moderato

  2. Andante Moderato

  3. Allegro Vigoroso

David Liptak (b. 1949)- Flaming Angel (1976)

Aubrey Tucker (1945 - 2018) - Four Cantigas (1992)

  1. Cantiga de Santa Maria

  2. Cantiga de Amigo

  3. Cantiga de Gesta

  4. Cantiga de Santa Maria - A Crusader’s Tale


Christopher Gordon (b. 1956) - Concerto for bass trombone (2004)

  1. Invocation

  2. Song

  3. Dance


Featuring:

Liang-yu Wang, piano

David Schrader, organ and amplified harpsichord

Mercedes Smith, flute and alto flute

Jack Westmoreland and Tim Maynard, percussion


Sean Keenan, recording engineer

Buzz Smith, recording engineer (Tucker only)

Reed Capshaw, Mark Fisher, Jeremy Moeller and Adam Moen, executive producers


Recorded at…

Judson University - Herrick Chapel, Elgin IL (Gordon and Pilss)

First Congregational Church of Dundee IL (Liptak)

St Giles Episcopal Church, Northbrook IL (Mueller)

Buzz Smith Studios, Houston TX (Tucker)


Album Cover Art by Samantha D’Adamo

Dedicated in loving memory of Aubrey Tucker and David Waters

Album Liner Notes:

Johann Immanuel Müller (1774–1839) was a German composer and organist. His Praeludium, Chorale, Variations, and Fugue for bass trombone and organ is listed as having been composed in 1839, the year of his death, though the exact date of composition remains unknown. This recording marks the premiere of the piece with its intended instrumentation of bass trombone and organ. David Schrader performs on a Helmuth Wolff organ at St. Giles Episcopal Church in Northbrook, Illinois—an instrument considered one of the finest in the Midwest. The sanctuary’s acoustics capture an ideal balance between the bass trombone and the organ.

Karl Pilß (1902–1979) was an Austrian pianist, conductor, composer, and painter. He studied piano and music theory at the Vienna Academy of Music from 1918 to 1922, followed by composition studies from 1924 to 1927. In 1932, Clemens Krauss appointed him assistant conductor of the Vienna State Opera, where he also worked as choir director. Pilß taught piano and music theory at the Vienna Conservatory and served as director of studies at the Salzburg Festival from 1934 to 1966, collaborating with renowned conductors like Arturo Toscanini, Bruno Walter, and Herbert von Karajan. His compositional style was influenced by Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, and Franz Schmidt. Among Pilß’s most frequently performed works are the Trumpet Sonata (1935) and Tre pezzi in forma di Sonata for French horn and piano. His Concerto for Bass Trombone and String Orchestra, though challenging due to its extensive use of the upper register, is musically rich. In this recording, the piano reduction by Pilß complements the composition well, with a clear influence from composers like Richard Strauss making it a rewarding piece for both performer and listener.

David Liptak is a distinguished composer whose works have been performed across the United States and internationally by the San Francisco Symphony, Montreal Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic, and numerous chamber ensembles. He has taught composition for over three decades and is currently a Professor of Composition at the Eastman School of Music, where he has been since 1986. His work Flaming Angel for bass trombone and amplified harpsichord consists of five rhythmic variations. This recording marks the premiere of this significant and distinctive composition.

Aubrey Tucker (1945–2018) enjoyed a diverse career in music and education. A jazz trombonist and arranger, he toured with iconic big bands such as those of Woody Herman, Si Zentner, and Illinois Jacquet. Tucker performed with legendary artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Tony Bennett, earning five Las Vegas Entertainment Awards. Later in his career, he founded the Commercial Music program at Houston Community College and co-founded the Jazz Houston Orchestra, where he served on the Board of Directors. His Four Cantigas was written during his DMA studies at Rice University for his close friend, bass trombonist David Waters. This 2010 recording features Tucker’s nephew, Mark Fry, on bass trombone.

Christopher Gordon is a Sydney-based composer known for his work across genres, including concert hall compositions, ballet, and film scores. His film music for Master and Commander, Mao’s Last Dancer, Adore, and Ladies in Black, among others, has earned international recognition, including an Emmy nomination. Gordon has also composed numerous ballet works for companies like The Australian Ballet and Universal Ballet. His Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra was premiered in 2004 by Christopher Harris with the Sydney Symphony. This recording presents the original piano reduction of the orchestral score, offering a striking version of this monumental work for bass trombone.