Madonna of Silence is far from the quiet piece implied by the title. Indeed, it reflects the inner turbulence of Michelangelo’s extraordinary drawing "Madonna del Silenzio" on which the work is based. Michelangelo’s drawing has informed every aspect of my new work, which I have decided not to call trombone concerto, but a "drama for trombone and orchestra". The trombone takes on many roles: at the start it represents the quiet, inner voice of the Madonna as she gazes in contemplation at the ...