Our House is a major new work by internationally renowned British jazz trombonist Mark Nightingale. It is scored for jazz trombone and chamber orchestra and is in three movements.
The idea for a piece to feature jazz trombone and chamber orchestra for ITF 2009 was conceived by Niels-Ole Bo Johansen and Mark Nightingale at the International Trombone Festival in Birmingham, England. Over a quiet drink they became embroiled in an in-depth discussion on all aspects of music, and specifically new repertoire for the trombone.
Inspiration for the piece, which was written during May 2009, came from the name of the host city, Aarhus, of International Trombone Festival 2009. When spoken with English intonation it sounded very much like the words 'Our House', and so Mark Nightingale looked inward to the members of his family and wrote a movement for each of them.
Orchestration: solo jazz trombone, 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe (doubling cor anglais), Bb clarinet (doubling bass clarinet), bassoon, trumpet in Bb (+cup, straight and harmon mutes), horn in F (+mute), tenor trombone (+cup and straight mutes), piano, harp and percussion (glockenspiel, vibraphone, snare drum and bass drum).