Review

George Gershwin
Prelude II: Blue Lullaby:

Arranged by Matt Lennox


Vancouver, BC, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2014
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

Prelude II: Blue Lullaby is one of three movements from George Gershwin’s Three Preludes for solo piano arranged by Matt Lennox. Lennox is a member of the Salt River Brass and is trombone instructor at Chandler-Gilbert and Glendale Community Colleges. It features a bluesy style and remains at an Andante tempo throughout. All parts are given in bass clef and trombone 1, 2 and 4 are featured as soloists at points during the arrangement. Ranges extend from F to e-sharp2 in trombone 1, c-sharp to a-sharp1 in trombone 2, c-sharp to f-sharp1 in trombone 3, and FF-sharp to b-sharp in trombone 4. There are no mutes used or extended techniques required of the performers; the technical difficulties only involve range. The option to play down an octave is given to some passages in the trombone 1 part. There are no performance notes but the neatly organized score includes all dynamic, tempo, articulation, and style markings to ensure clear performing instruction. This piece is ideal for advanced high school players and up due to the extreme range written in the trombone 1 and 4 parts. Blue Lullaby will work well on any program as it provides an opportunity for performers to showcase both jazz and lyrical playing.

-Anthony Williams
University of Northern Iowa