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This passage is exhausting to play and requires an absolutely solid sense of rhythm and pulse in order to play it successful. The trombone section doubles the celli and bassi on this passage, the final outburst from the hero as he throws off his critics. Marked fortissimo, it should be full and round, not hard and edgy. Once again, Strauss begins with a slur between the dotted quarter note and the eighth note - it happens many times in this passage. Don't clip the eighth note, in fact, imagine it has a tenuto mark over it so you lead (without slurring) into the first half note.
I have already discussed the duple half note figure in my comments for Excerpt 2; just remember to breathe on the barlines between the measures of half notes in order to have a strong feeling on the down beat of each figure. Utilizing the breaths as marked will help you not get too depleated as well as preserve a good sense of line. Since this passage is in unison, many trombone sections stagger the breaths between the players, however at an audition, you are on your own, and this suggested breathing has worked well for me. Don't forget to make the dimuendi which are marked at the end, and having a nice, short and soft last note will be very impressive. Control, control, control!
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