Review

Kenyon Wilson
Trifecta :

Louisville, KY, United States
Publisher: Potenza Music Publishing
Date of Publication: 2013
URL: http://www.potenzamusic.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass

Trifecta is a brass quintet piece featuring the trombonist as soloist. It was composed in 2007 for Dr. William Mann, currently the Assistant Professor of trombone at Georgia State University. Kenyon Wilson is the Associate Professor of low brass and music theory at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga as well as the principal tubist with the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Wilson has composed extensively for brass and more information and audio samples are available at www.kenyonwilson.com. As Mr. Wilson writes in the program notes, “Trifecta is written in rondo form with an introduction. The introduction is slow and lyrical with a trombone cadenza that leads into the first A section. The A section is composed in a conversational style between the trombone and brass quintet and continues to develop with each restatement.” One of the more interesting sections involves solo trombone playing the melody from the opening introduction in duple meter over the brass quintet accompaniment in triple meter. Mr. Wilson uses the 6/8 to 3/4 motion quite extensively and to great effect. The work has a palpable yet quirky groove that is catching. Occasional use of 2/4 and 5/8 further reinforces the unique flow of the work. Harmonically, the piece opens in c minor before transitioning to B-flat major with the Allegro. The use of the lowered second scale degree provides another point of harmonic interest. The trombone part is well within range of undergraduate students, though work must be put in to gain the desired ease and flow that makes the piece resonate. Accompaniment parts are clearly marked with no page turn difficulties and range lies within the grasp of the undergraduate student. Some ensemble work may be needed for younger groups to master the shifting macro meter changes and balance between accompaniment and soloist. This is an excellent piece for featuring the trombone in recitals, recruiting events, or just because it should be.

-Thomas Zugger
Capitol University