Review

Tom Dossett
Three Cups of Life:

Coventry, , United Kingdom
Publisher: Warwick Music Publishers
Date of Publication: 2010
URL: http://www.warwickmusic.com

Primary Genre: Solo Bass/Contrabass Trombone - with piano

Three Cups of Life is a three-movement work for bass trombone and piano clocking in at just over four minutes. Like most of Dossett's music, it is quite tonal and rhythmically straightforward. The first movement, A Hurried Life, is given in 4/4 meter, and marked “Vivo” with a tempo of mm=95. This movement features several middle register 16th note runs mixing diatonic and chromatic scales. Range covers AA to e1. The piano part features syncopated eighth note/sixteenth note passages that are beamed to sound like three over four hemiola, but which are easily deciphered. The movement has a bit of an angular, jagged feel, and does a nice job of sounding rushed. It ends abruptly with an incomplete cadence.
 
The second movement, A Serene Life, is marked “Lethargic.” It is cast in 4/4 meter with one 2/4 measure, at a tempo of mm=90. This movement lies entirely in and below the staff, ranging from b-flat down to FF. It has a bluesy feel, and while not marked legato, the performer will certainly want to approach this music lyrically.
 
The third movement, A Frenetic Life, is in 2/4 meter at a tempo of mm=75. It is marked Ragtime, and is certainly the most challenging movement from a technical and rhythmic perspective, both for the soloist and the pianist. With a range of AA-flat to f1, this movement channels Scott Joplin, and while not overly original, is fun to play and hear.
 
Three Cups of Life does not break any new ground, but is an enjoyable, light work that may function well as a program opener. It is playable by an advanced high school or moderately accomplished college bass trombonist, and the piano part is not particularly difficult.

-Frank Gazda
Delaware State University