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Cades Cove was written in June of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. This piece is the composer’s attempt to musically portray the feeling of being homesick and having fond memories of a cherished place while stuck hundreds of miles away. Unlike many unaccompanied works for trombone, this piece is a slower, lyrical piece that would work well as a change of pace on a recital.

Cades Cove is located in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and my family would often make the drive from nearby Oak Ridge, TN, to spend a weekend day picnicking by a stream, driving through Cades Cove looking for black bears, and enjoying the beautiful mountain terrain. I highly encourage any performer of this work to visit Cades Cove at once in their life, or to at least do a quick internet search of photos and videos from Cades Cove if unable to travel to East Tennessee anytime soon.

Range is from pedal F to A-flat above the staff, and duration is around 4-5 minutes depending on tempos. File includes the tenor trombone version as well.