Review

Kenyon Wilson
Songs of Distant Earth: for five trombones

Louisville, KY, United States
Publisher: Potenza Music Publishing
Date of Publication: 2011
URL: http://www.potenzamusic.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 5 trombones

Kenyon Wilson is Associate Professor of Low Brass and Music Theory at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. This work received third place in the 2011 International Trombone Festival Competition Contest sponsored by Bone Therapy. The piece is set in five movements. Each movement takes its title and musical character from the five known dwarf planets: Eris, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Ceres.
 
The piece is scored for four tenor trombones and one bass trombone. The composer nicely distributes melodic material and rhythmic figures throughout all five parts so each part plays an important role. The music varies in style including fanfares, beautiful chorales and exciting mixed meter sections that can also work quite well with parts doubled, maybe keeping a few solo sections one on a part. The piece sounds impressive but is not overly difficult. It will challenge an advanced high school or college/university group, but is quite playable. All parts are given in bass clef throughout, with an overall range of D-flat in the bass, to b-flat1 in the first part. The piece is well constructed and will sound great in a recital or concert setting; I think it will be a real audience pleaser. Score and parts are clear and easy to read. More information can be obtained at www.potenzamusic.com.

-Drew Leslie
Appalachian State University