Review

Claude T. Smith
Variations for Baritone:

Arranged by Bradley Vertigan


Exton, PA, United States
Publisher: Wingert-Jones Publications
Date of Publication: 1971 / 2015
URL: http://www.wingertjones.com

Score and solo parts in bass clef and b-flat treble clef.

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

Celebrated composer Claude T. Smith created this work for legendary euphoniumist Rich Matteson in 1971. To be expected it is filled with jazz and rock influences and requires a soloist of professional stature. Originally scored for concert band accompaniment, editor Bradley Vertigan has created a piano reduction for this seven-minute work. The piano part is challenging and will most certainly require a skilled player. As indicated in the program notes, “Variations for Baritone is sectional in nature and opens with a soaring melody firmly anchored in an appealing accompaniment; a jazz waltz and a Latin section alternate throughout.” The closing section indicates an improvisation on the opening theme with an ending note of b-flat2. The articulation and fingering patterns are characteristic for the euphonium. There are many ledger lines above the staff in the bass clef version, which might make reading the b-flat treble clef version easier. Nonetheless, the print is easy to read and there are no awkward page turns in the solo part. A note from the publisher indicates that archival recordings are being sought to make available on their website. I suspect this work will be regularly performed once it is “rediscovered” by the euphonium community.

-David Stern
Houston, TX