The Cavatine opens with a dramatic chordal statement from the piano introducing the soloist in an arpeggio figure, spanning the interval of a 13th, from low to high register and instantly reveals the ability of the trombonist to produce a refined and consistent tone throughout the range. This can be achieved technically by emphasising the role of ‘air-speed’ in achieving higher notes and economising on the tightening of muscles in the embouchure. If the lip is allowed to become too tense the sound quality of the F in bar 5 will suffer. Try to establish a full round tone on the very first note that with the help of abdominal and diaphragm muscles will allow you to increase the ‘air-speed’ and float easily up the arpeggio. These significant crotchets establish the musical intentions of the performer right away and if played too short rather detract from the nobility of the theme. I have always felt that this rather ‘pompous’ opening phrase is reminiscent of a Victorian drawing room ballade; entertaining, yet a touch melodramatic. In bars 6 and 7 it is useful to recognize where the emphasis is placed on alternate beats thus creating the feeling of three bars of two within the two bars of three! This device, known as a ‘hemiola’, derives from Renaissance times and serves to propel the phrase forward with a kind of energy and bravado. A further compositional device appears from bar 10 where a pair of two bar sequences, assist the musical line and allow the performer to really ‘act out the drama’. One must also assess the intended musical result when choosing the kind of articulation for quaver passages. Again a ‘staccato attack’ may enhance definition but rather detract from elegance and refinement. A combination of a softer ‘da-da’ production with fast and accurate slide action will produce a more flowing and musical result.