Review

Shane Lamb
Pledge:

Vancouver, BC, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2009
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Piano score and solo part

Primary Genre: Solo Bass/Contrabass Trombone - with piano

This short work is based on the Pledge of Allegiance. It is quite solemn and serious presenting no technical problems, although it does go into the upper range a few times; g1 twice, and one b-flat1 – lower octave options are given. Mr. Lamb writes the following in his program notes:
Pledge was commissioned for an all American composers concert in April 2010 during the Butler School of Music’s Second Annual Research Week. The piece was inspired by my own feelings regarding America as well as the reputation our country has acquired throughout the World. This piece questions where our nation will go from here, and what the future may hold for us. To compose the trombone melody for the A section of the piece I set the text of the Pledge of Allegiance to music, resulting in a singing, syllabic style.
If you need a short piece to round out a recital program, this might fit your needs. The range covers from pedal GG to the b-flat1 mentioned above. The demands on the player are such that an advanced college student or extremely advanced high school player can handle it.

-Philip Brink
Mahidol University College of Music