Review

Elizabeth Raum
Olmütz Concerto: for alto trombone and orchestra

, United States
Publisher: Editions Bim
Date of Publication: 1994
URL: http://www.editions-bim.com

Piano score and solo part

Primary Genre: Solo Alto Trombone - with orchestra
Secondary Genre: Solo Alto Trombone - with piano

Canadian composer Elizabeth Raum wrote this concerto at the suggestion of her husband, Richard J. Raum, Principal Trombonist of the Regina Symphony Orchestra and a professor at the University of Regina. As indicated in her program notes, Mr. Raum encountered an 18th century music catalogue in the region formerly known as Olmütz, Moravia. This catalogue contained “thematic incipits, two measures in length, of three early classical trombone concertos” for which the composers are anonymous. At the suggestion of her husband, Elizabeth used these three incipits as the source material for the three movements of her concerto. The work was written for Christian Lindberg.
 
The 20-minute work, completely in alto clef, ranges from f to an occasional e-flat2 in the final movement. As might be expected, it has a reliably classical feel to it, reminiscent perhaps of the Albrechtsberger Concerto. Scored in the key of E-flat, the first movement features quite a few runs and requires good facility. It includes a modest cadenza near the end. The second movement, marked Andante amabile, serves well as a lyrical middle movement. This is fortunate given the possibility that these incipits represent three different concerti. The soloist is given occasional moments of rest and the tessitura is not unreasonably high. The final movement, a triple meter rondo, has a light clean feel with rapid scale figures and turns. The first movement appears to be significantly more challenging than the others. It is possible that the second or third movements might be programmed independently. I wouldn’t suggest this as a first alto trombone piece but those looking for something new should definitely consider it.

-Brad Edwards
Arizona State University