Abstract
This project presents a selection of six tenor, baritone, and bass arias from the standard opera repertoire to examine how they can be transcribed onto bass trombone performance. While there is necessarily a great focus on the development of the technical side of trombone playing, the more lyrical, cantabile qualities can sometimes be neglected. As such, by exploring these arias through their background contexts, lyrics, vocal inflections, and melodic gestures, the student can gain insight on how to best perform them on the trombone just as a singer would. This investigation will be accompanied by live performance excerpts from these arias on the bass trombone, utilizing these stylistic considerations and background contexts. This document will focus on the transcription for bass trombone specifically, given its broader, darker sound compared to a tenor trombone. In addition, instead of selecting from a wider scope of the more popular arias in opera repertoire, which includes all voice types and vocal ranges, this project will narrow this scope to those traditionally sung by tenor, baritone, and bass voices as to closely facilitate the lower tessitura of the instrument. These opera aria transcriptions will not only strengthen and display the melodic, vocal qualities of the instrument but will also expand the current solo trombone repertoire beyond the traditional list of standard pieces often performed in recitals and other performances.