Abstract:
This study has presented a comprehensive overview of the score, context, and
significance of Ulysses Kay’s neoclassical work Tromba (1983) for solo trumpet and piano. The
information suggests that Tromba, though underperformed, contains standard elements that are
found in comparable bench-mark works. In direct comparison to Kent Kennan’s Sonata for
Trumpet and Piano, the piece is found to contain many similar musical and extra-musical
elements. The International Trumpet Guild, the pre-eminent scholarly organization for trumpet
players, selected Tromba as the required repertoire for its annual Solo Performance Competition.
This research determined a likely reason for the selection was due to the social climate across the
United States in the summer of 2020 and Kay’s status as currently underrepresented, as an
African American composer.
