Danziger: Orbicularis Oris - Trombone Choir (PDF)

"I was a freshman in college when I started composing this piece, I remember I was in my dorm trying to think of something to compose. I wasn’t a composition major yet, but I play trombone- so naturally I was listening to “Full Tilt”

on repeat by Anthony Dilorenzo. This piece takes a lot of inspiration from that piece, osteo blast, and other pieces of music I was listening to at the time.

I remember talking to my mom, who is a dental hygienist, and I was asking her what muscles were around the lips/face- muscles that we use as trombone players. The “Orbicularis Oris” is a muscle around the lips which helps control our embouchure as brass players. The title clicked with me.

So there I was, sitting in my dorm, composing my first trombone choir piece, having no idea anyone would ever play it.

I submitted the piece to ITF (international trombone festival), not expecting to win at all, but I got an email back saying I was one of the winners. So I went to Texas that year to have my piece premiered.

Now the piece has been performed by over 25 universities at the time I’m revising this description.

I’m so grateful to all the people who have performed this piece and shared it with the world."

-John Danziger