Review

Elliott Carter
Retracing V for Solo Trombone:

New York, NY, United States
Publisher: Hendon Music
Date of Publication: 2011
URL: http://www.nkoda.com

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - unaccompanied

Elliott Carter (1908-2012) was one of the most important, innovative and distinguished American composers of the 20th and into the 21st centuries. His avant-garde exploration of unique tempo relationships, virtuosic instrumental/vocal demands, unusual textures and colors made him a distinctive voice. He was the recipient of numerous honors: two Pulitzer Prizes, the National Medal of Arts, memberships in the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, official recognition from the governments of France, Germany, Italy, and honorary degrees from a host of universities. He was lauded by Aaron Copland as one of America's most distinguished creative artists in any field. His music is championed and performed by some of the most renowned artists of our time, including James Levine, Daniel Barenboim, Ursula Oppens, Charles Rosen, the Juilliard String Quartet, the Boston Symphony, the Arditty Quartet, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Pierre Boulez, the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, Paul Zukofsky, and Gilbert Kalish.
 
Retracing V is based on the trombone part in one of his last works, Double Trio (2011), scored for trumpet, trombone, percussion, piano, violin and cello. Most of the trombone part is taken from the beginning and ending of this work. There is an excellent recording of Double Trio available at Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYwaz4GY3Fg with Jim Pugh on trombone. Retracing V consists largely of legato lines, a single tempo (quarter note=72), a constant meter featuring simple rhythms, with numerous dynamic indications. The range is moderate, D-d2. There are no extended techniques employed and the legato writing is quite traditional, albeit atonal. This is good music by a master composer, playable by an advanced undergraduate.

-Karl Hinterbichler
University of New Mexico