Serenity
For Bass Trombone, Violoncello, and Piano
Serenity on Bootleg
Russ Zokaites - Bass Trombone
Gina Pezzoli - Cello
William A. Murphy - Piano
This recording of Serenity is available on the album Bootleg, available internationally from Centaur Records, (catalog number 3903). Recorded in September 2020 in Werner Recital Hall at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Find this album for purchase and streaming worldwide on Naxos, Spotify, Apple Music, and many other sources.
Broadcast Premiere: Classical Discoveries, WPRB Princeton University, November 2021.
Learn more about the album Bootleg here.
“In Martin Hebel's Serenity, Zokaites uses his opportunity to sing a beautiful soulful Appalachian tune…” —George Curran, Bass Trombone New York Philharmonic
“I particularly enjoyed the lush interplay of cello, piano, and bass trombone in Serenity…” —John Romero, Principal Trombonist Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
“Martin Hebel’s Serenity, as its title would lead you to believe, is an introspective trio in one movement for bass trombone, cello, and piano. It is also based on Appalachian tunes, exploring the lyrical possibilities of the bass trombone. Zokaites plays with a beautiful cantabile, and Hebel finds the right approach to balance the three instruments.” —Henry Fogel of Fanfare Magazine
Program Notes
Inspired by Appalachian folk music traditions, Serenity was commissioned by Russ Zokaites in 2016, a native of the Appalachian region.
Composed in seven short sections, Serenity contributes original melodies drawing on the simple, open harmonic language and organic melodic patterns of the Appalachian folk tradition. Combining the unique emotive voice of the bass trombone, the rich lyricism of the cello, and the bright, clear timbre of the piano, this trio evokes the spirit and natural beauty of Appalachia through a contemporary lens while maintaining a traditional folk music character.
8 minutes | 2017