11 Challenging second trombone orchestral excerpts

11 Challenging second trombone orchestral excerpts

I want to dispel this common misconception that if you play 2nd trombone in an orchestra, you don’t need strong high or low chops and that somehow, playing 2nd, is not that demanding. Think again!

In addition to having a keen radar for blend, balance and intonation, you need to be able to effectively bridge the sound of the section between the bass and principal trombones. In other words, you have to be able to do it all! Otherwise, you’re just hiding behind your colleagues.

In this video, I have collected and recorded 11 challenging 2nd and 3rd trombone orchestral excerpts. I’ve played all of these on auditions, in concert, or both.

DISCLAIMER: THIS IS HOW I PLAY THESE EXCERPTS! There are many opinions about how to play little snippets from these masterpieces. This is my take.

I encourage you to visit and sign up for the schoolofbrass.com if you want to see my educational video on how I developed and maintain the techniques that I use to play second trombone in a major symphony orchestra.

Enjoy!

0:00 Alban Berg 3 - Pieces for Orchestra
0:44 Hector Berlioz - Roman Carnival Overture
1:06 Gustav Holst - Uranus from The Planets
1:38 Gustav Mahler - Symphony no. 5 excerpt #1
2:08 Gustav Mahler - Symphony no. 5 excerpt #2
2:36 Gustav Mahler - Symphony no. 6
2:53 Sergei Prokofiev - Symphony no. 3
3:11 Richard Strauss - Alpine Symphony excerpt #1
3:42 Richard Strauss - Alpine Symphony excerpt #2
4:09 Richard Strauss - Alpine Symphony 3rd trombone excerpt (often asked on 2nd tbn. auditions)
4:36 Richard Strauss - Also Sprach Zarathustra