Review

Bart Van Kerchove
The Trombonator:

Machelen-aan-de-Leie, , Belgium
Publisher: Yellow Music Editions
Date of Publication: 2012

Piano score and solo part

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

As the title suggests, this entertaining work is written in a style often used in action movie scores. Much of the piece is basically a march in 12/8 meter, strongly rhythmic and energetic, with a more lyrical section in the middle. Ranges are reasonable and particularly well suited to the level of college freshmen and sophomores, E-a1. Good double tonguing and control of dynamics are required, but other technical demands are moderate. The switching between duple and triple rhythms in 12/8 will be a challenge for some students. The Trombonator is an enjoyable piece for both performers and fun for listeners. It could close a student recital nicely, even a professional recital, and manages to be evocative without becoming trite.

-Chris Buckholz
University of New Mexico