Review

Marco Bordogni
Bordogni Suite: for three trombones and tuba

Arranged by Andrew Heading


Louisville, KY, United States
Publisher: Potenza Music Publishing
Date of Publication: 2006 / 2013
URL: http://www.potenzamusic.com

score and parts

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 4 brass
Secondary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

Andrew Heading serves as principal trombone of the Air Force Band in Melbourne, Australia, the organization that has premiered the majority of his compositions and arrangements. His stated philosophy of composition proclaims “the work must always be interesting and entertaining to the listener and the performer alike.” Successfully acting on this philosophy he created this suite based on six Bordogni vocalise melodies and explains: “… I conceived the idea of arranging these exercises so that all the members of the section got the chance to play the melody as well as counter-melodies and harmonies. Similarly, the harmonies I have used are not really the ones that you might expect; rather, I have made them a little more interesting than the standard chords I and V. Thus, to perform this music well, the section must really work hard on sound, balance, intonation, and rhythm…”
 
The Suite consists of six selections corresponding to Bordogni/Rochut etude numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 5. Indeed, these are well-known melodies in the trombone world and, as promised, all parts have melodic responsibility. Trombone 1 carries the melody exclusively in three movements; tuba carries it alone in another; the three trombones share it in one movement and all parts share it in another. All parts are well marked with phrase, dynamic, articulation and tempo directions that convey a complete musical conception for each movement.

Each movement preserves Bordogni’s melody rather faithfully including phrasing, style and tempo rubato. But that is where Bordogni’s influence stops. The melodies are extensively reharmonized with a good mixture of homophonic and polyphonic lines that are as challenging to play as the original melodies, some even more so. These harmonizations are quite busy; harmonic rhythm is multiplied when compared to Bordogni’s slow, simple harmonies. Heading occasionally inserts harmonic quotes; the opening of the sixth movement cleverly apes the famous chorale from Dvořák’s Symphony No.9. For those of us familiar with Bordogni’s music, this business may seem out of balance; it might be difficult to hear this Suite objectively against the background of Bordogni’s 19th century romantic simplicity. And purists may hear these arrangements as creativity gone awry. However, Heading’s Suite is fun, engaging to play and hear. It casts these solo training pieces in a new genre, that of concert worthy chamber music that connects with audiences. While not completely balanced musically, Bordogni Suite is the next step in the evolution of what has become perhaps the most popular pedagogical material in the world of trombone. I think Bordogni would be pleased.

-Mike Hall
Old Dominion University