Icarus and Daedalus

Commissioned by Soloist Jose Leonardo Leon in late 2022, this piece ties ancient myth with the rich, noble sound of the Tenor and Bass Trombone. Based on the myth of Icarus and his father, Daedalus, escaping the labyrinth with makeshift wings, this puts the soloist on both sides of the story with the use of not one but two Trombones. The piece's beginning explores the invigorating first moments of the flight. The part of Icarus is played on the Tenor Trombone and features acrobatics akin to the excitement of flying through the clouds. The soloist will display wild and fast passages as the young Icarus flies higher and higher. As this develops, the orchestra depicts the sun melting the wax off the wings as Icarus loses his battle with gravity. At this point, the piece changes perspectives, and the soloist switches to Bass Trombone to tell us the events seen by Daedalus. This section depicts Daedalus's deep mourning and regrets over losing his son to his invention. The last phrase is the memory of Icarus as it lives in Daedalus's mind for the rest of his days.