PRECOMP Entry #1

PREFACE
February 2013 other possible titles: Barditus | Stabreim | War-Charm 
At the closing of our last collaboration, Jeremy (can-do) Stones, requested another movement inspired piece, for ensemble, with a fun historical theme.

The working title of this work is, Trombonicus. A mash word featuring Jeremy's instrument and our mutual love of the absurd Television series on STARZ Spartacus: Blood and Sand etc.

Fashioning this far-fetched concept as a more serious historical research project, I have decided to investigate new historical recontextualisations of the modern trombone.We all know of the sackbut, of course, however, is there something older?

Somewhere?


CARNYX
Introducing the CARNYX:
An ancient trumpet like instrument, used by Ironage Celtic Warriors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnyx (for more info than you need!)

Julius Caesar wrote about them during the Gallic Wars. 2100 years of Iron-worked bass-horn awesomeness.

A well respected trombonist (the relevance is mounting!), John Kenny, has been integral to the recreation process, both as researcher and performer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVAWwWi0DbE (live performance with a Carnyx!)

The voice of the ancients! Incredible!

This ancient Gallic/Germanic instrument has led me to research any contemporary accounts of celtic-martial music from around the time of the BC/AD change-over.

TACITUS
Germania [http://www.ourcivilisation.com/smartboard/shop/tacitusc/germany/chap1.htm]
Tacitus writes of  a chant called the Barritus, in which the Germans beckoned their great Heroes forth, like the Hellenic Hercules.

Histories book IV [http://classics.mit.edu/Tacitus/histories.4.iv.html]
Tacitus makes mention of the Batavian war-song with the shrieks of dreaded women.

Annales book I [http://classics.mit.edu/Tacitus/annals.1.i.html]
A moonlight vigil with brazen trumpets and horns, lamenting with joy and sorrow, the victorious dead.

Annales book IV [http://classics.mit.edu/Tacitus/annals.4.iv.html]
Here the sounds of war-songs is combined with the noise of clashing weapons.

SILIUS ITALICUS
Punica Book III [http://archive.org/stream/punicasi01siliuoft#page/138/mode/2up]
Celtic pre-war music rites include the stamping of feet and beating of shields in time with music.

POLYBUS
Histories Book II [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Polybius/2*.html]
The dreadful din of innumerable horn-blowers ordered the formation of the army as war-songs and cries ran out over the blasting of trumpets.


FINAL THOUGHTS
Lots of material above. I will continue to populate this list.
As this is the only written record of this composition, all of these broad concepts must be committed to memory, and eventually, consolidated in the first of a series of instructional podcasts.


MARKOLIVERIO