Review

Felix Mendelssohn
Five Easy Trios:

Arranged by Robin Benton


Coventry, , United Kingdom
Publisher: Warwick Music Publishers
Date of Publication: 2009
URL: http://www.warwickmusic.com

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 3 trombones

Arranged for a level at about the third year of playing, these trios comprise:
1. Wedding March from ‘A Midsummer Night Dream’
2. Nocturne from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’
3. War March of the Priests from the cantata ‘Athalie’
4. Faith from ‘Songs Without Words’
5. Funeral March from ‘Songs Without Words’
 
These rather familiar melodies are stated only once with minimal introduction and conclusion. Each is around or under two minutes in length and contain no significant rest in any part. Overall range and tessitura are aligned between F and g1. Numerous accidentals appear in key areas of one and three flats. Each part is rather independent requiring rhythmic security; challenges include dotted rhythms and triplets. Clear, abundant direction is given for tempo, dynamic and articulation, helping define style clearly. These are solid, fun to play trios intended for capable, young players. Presentation is exemplary, as we have come to expect from Warwick Music.

-Mike Hall
Old Dominion University