Dido's Lament from "Dido and Aeneas"

The arrangement is based on the Purcell opera about the Trojan Warrior Aeneas. Aeneas is sailing towards Italy when he is blown off course to the shores of Northern Africa. There he meets a queen named Dido and the two have an affair. Aeneas leaves her to head towards Italy and Dido becomes so distraught that she orders a large pyre, on which she plans to impale herself and be set ablaze so that Aeneas will see from his ship.

This arrangement is for 5 trombones, but sounds even better with 10. The 5th part has an optional divisi if two players are available. Alternate parts for trombone parts 1/2/3 are provided for higher instruments in the brass family. Please note that every part heard on the ScoreFlipper sound file was recorded by James Nova on various trombones.

Instrumentation:

Part 1 (Range to D5) - Trombone or alto trombone or alt. French Horn or alt. Flugelhorn
Part 2 (Range to A4) - Trombone or Alto trombone or alt. French Horn
Part 3 - Trombone or Alto trombone or alt. French Horn
Part 4 - Trombone/Bass Trombone
Part 5 (Range to D1) - Bass Trombone or Tuba


When French Horn or Flugelhorn is used for Part 1, the difficulty is Grade 4.