Rumba Ingombra (Encumbered Rumba) (2021) for fourteen players (2 flutes, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, horn, trumpet, 2 trombones, tuba, electric guitar, electric bass, piano, percussion) [6:30] Christopher Trapani · Rumba Ingombra (Encumbered Rumba) Rumba Ingombra (Encumbered Rumba) starts out as a dense, propulsive polyrhythmic dance and ends six minutes later as a waterlogged dirge. Everything that feels light at the start is progressively weighed down: activity is supplanted by stasis, the harmonic rhythm slows to a crawl. There are references to familiar brass and wind band sonorities throughout: the patterned hits of son and salsa, big band swells, the processionals of Sicily and Malta during Holy Week. A duet on two trombones leads the explosive opening section. After an overactive minute, the staccato attacks step into the background texture beneath muted brass chorales. A stuck groove in the reeds drags the tempo down further, until a bass drum and cymbal introduce an even more glacial tempo. A minor key marching band tune coalesces then dissipates in a wave of white noise in the winds and cymbals… Rumba Ingombra (Encumbered Rumba) was commissioned by de ereprijs and premiered on November 24, 2021 at Musis in Arnhem (NL) with Gregory Charette conducting.