Review

Jim Kelsey
Sonata for Trombone and Piano Op.25:

, United States
Publisher: Wehr's Music House
Date of Publication: 2011

Piano score and solo part

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

The composer dedicates this sonata to Steven Churchwell. According to the back cover notes, Mr. Kelsey lists Vincent Persichetti’s Twentieth-Century Harmony text as a major influence of this work and notes that the sonata  “… extensively utilizes quartal harmony and polytonalism.” The three-movement work has a range of B-flat-e2, employs extensive use of mixed meter and requires the trombonist to read bass and tenor clefs. The piano part qualifies as at least moderately difficult. The trombonist needs a solid, reliable high range, multiple tonguing skills, and advanced rhythmic independence in order to deliver a credible performance of this work.
 
The outer movements are fast with pointed articulations and multiple tonguing required in the last movement; the slower inner movement employs a quasi-cadenza near the end. In selected spots in the second and third movements, Mr. Kelsey gives the performer the option of playing portions of selected passages up the octave; in this author’s opinion it seems that ignoring this option is the best way to proceed. For example, the last notes in the second movement are, at the performer’s option, b1 – c2 – d2. The d2 is held for 12 counts plus time in fermata, with ritardando e diminuendo to ppp – if in doubt, please play the lower octave, the “large notes.” An F-attachment will facilitate a better performance in some technical passages, as will judicious and frequent use of alternate slide positions. There are several sequential passages that don’t seem idiomatic for trombone at first, or second or sixth pass, so patience and slow practice is required. With all this said, frankly, the work looks and sounds interesting and is worthy of performance.  Consider it appropriate recital fare for a college level senior recital or above.
  
-Michael Davidson
University of Kansas