Secret House for Female Trombonist

Secret House for Female Trombonist, by John Kenny.
Performed by Emily White
Venue Stapleford Granary 2021
Film: David Lefeber
This ground-breaking sonata (later re-printed as Sonata for Solo Tenor Trombone) is published by Warwick Music. It was written in 2001 and premiered by Emily White to whom it is dedicated. As well as using percussion and spoken word whilst playing trombone John Kenny has composed multi-phonics in the very highest regions of the female vocal range. Almost all other contemporary repertoire for trombone that uses multi-phonics places it in a range that is too low for most women's voices.
Please note that in this performance due to the effects of recent covid some of the very highest multi-phonics are an octave lower than the written pitch. The original octaves can be heard on 'The Secret House', a CD available to buy from the website carnyx.org.uk performed by Emily White recorded on British Music Label with John Kenny as producer.
On behalf of all the many female trombonists who love contemporary music, thanks to John Kenny for this extraordinary piece.
It is in three movements, and there is text for each, also written by the composer:
Movement I
Frost tang gags, reek of backed-up fires; soot falls silently, a black snow.
Towering brick buttress, winter whitened elder and honeysuckle entwined …. squeak and whisper.
Face cold … snuggle deeper into this warm nest … soft breathing of another, sleeping: …. Sister
Unable to turn, stare out, up - endlessly, ….. steely blue points ….glittering firmament
Now through the tunnel of years I grope, and long to see, to touch again my childish eternity
Movement II
Blood warm citadel, perfected over aeons wrought of parts minute, invisible, coalesced to form this whole, yet divisible continuum of infinite variety: precious walls conceal the crucible.
A box without hinges, key or lid Yet golden treasure inside is hid
Invading deluge, thrust, squirm and die …… all but one…… Tenacious alien, consumed and consummated
In comes I, welcome not or welcome be, to lodge and feed at your expense; my right ordained ‘fore your march of time began: Succubus or incubus, you are my promised land
Paradox: the end of “I” the start of “We” Yet this hallowed chamber is still only “Me”.
Movement III
Dark House, Donegal.
Stones shaped by wind and ice,
Loaded creels on aching sturdy backs
Stumped weary miles
Patient eyes, gnarled hands,
Laid each one to rest, no cutting tool or mortar.
Roof ribs of blackened bog-oak
Reed thatch a yellow living skin
One small window and a door set in wall a man’s arm deep ….
Dark House…
Soot Blackened kettle and cauldron
Straddle turf fire, lit by long dead hand
Re-kindled from the dying embers
Each day, a dawn-red kiss
Passed down through generations
This flame’s flicker, life breath
To croft……
House home to man, beast and vermin
Crawler, spinner, winged
And singer at the hearth
Love, birth and death revolving
Never plenty, one time famine,
Endless toil yet always laughter
Pipes and fiddle hid on rafter
. ………………………………
Life patterns knit by seasons’ passing
Myth, faith and family formed a fabric
Rich and self sustaining -
Unravelled at the flick of a switch,
Irresistible images of a new world
Flood and overpower the old, which
Poverty held at bay.
So, now the whitewashed walls bulge outThatch fallen in,
growing tufts and moss.
Hearth cold,
peeling door ajar
Since the day the last of old ones left, feet first.
Stones rain-washed, sliding, settling slowly
Back to ground - a house no more,
Gentle mound to cover memory,
The passing of a time and of a people.

[@TonySmith-pu5ws]

Simply astonishing, I will come back to this music and text many times

[@amosmiller9556]

Sensationally well done.

[@davidward854]

Wonderful, fabulous in every way.

[@anaischen5312]

It evokes magic in me and a sense of liberation of expressivity. To me it seems you embodied the piece in all his aspects to a point that it comes effortless and as improvised. I love also your voice and your face expression, specially at the end of the 2nd mvt ;). Thank you Emily!

[@petergarner]

Just blown away by this. Don't know what else to say. Words fail me.

[@Thultmark]

Absolutely fantastic. The piece is a contemporary classic and I can’t imagine it performed any more brilliantly than ths

[@bertrandrussel3680]

I LIKE :)

[@meye_mc]

Incrediblely incroyable

[@margaretackroyd5838]

Amazing a truly virtuoso performance, with every colour and emotion. Such skill

[@fionabenjamin1962]

I love watching all your amazing videos!!! Crush your competition with P-R-O-M-O-S-M!