The Sandman’s Domain: Concerto for Trombone and Orchestra

PART 1:
I. Spells and Hallucinations
II. Imps, Gremlins, and Goblins
III. Morpheus
IV. The Gathering

PART 2:
V. The Garden of Dreams
VI. Fairies, Pixies, and Sprites

INTERLUDE:
VII. The Descent

PART 3:
VIII. Ifrits, Djinn, and Demons
XI. Dies Irae
X. The Awakening

The Sandman’s Domain was inspired by Neil Gaiman’s award-winning comic book series “The Sandman”. His ability to create highly imaginative worlds full of colourful characters was legendary and his narratives unfolded like hallucinatory dreams. When the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra proposed I write a new concerto for their principal trombonist, James Scott, I felt this was the ideal theme to explore. The trombone is a bold instrument capable of capturing a wide range of emotions: from tender lyricism to dramatic heroism. I thought it would be an exciting concept to have the soloist assigned the role of the mystical Sandman and take the audience onto a wondrous journey into his domain.

While rereading my entire collection of the series, I was inspired to create my own Gaiman-esque narrative for the concerto, one that would be experienced as an unbroken dream-like journey in musical form (see movements above ). Rather than provide any in-depth description of this narrative, I leave you (the audience) with only the inner-movement titles so you may conjure your own imaginative interpretations as the music unfolds.