Vital Signs of Planet Earth is a programmatic concerto for bass trombone that seeks to depict the "vital signs" of the earth as related to global warming. Global warming is scientific fact. The level of awareness about global warming must be raised so that steps can be taken to reverse or slow down the deterioration of our planet. Each movement of the concerto portrays one of the major events caused by global warming, HEAT WAVE, GLACIAL RETREAT, and DELUGE. The solo bass trombone reacts to and provides commentary on each of the three events. -the publisher