Review

Traditional
The Caroling Book: 21 Christmas Carols for Trombone Trio:

Arranged by Sonny Ausman and Steve Sample


Vancouver, BC, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2011
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 3 trombones

These selections cover much of the waterfront as far as Christmas standards are concerned. Ten are familiar carols from the Anglo-German tradition, ‘Joy to the World,’ ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful,’ ‘Silent Night,’ etc, and two are French. There is an African-American Spiritual, and eight American ‘pop’ songs, ranging from the sentimental ‘Have Yourself a Merry Christmas’ to the lively jazz-inspired syncopations of ‘Santa Baby.’ There is almost certainly something here that most people will like. Harmonies in the eleven traditional carols arranged by Ausman are generally straightforward. The contemporary selections arranged by Sample feature funky chromatic harmony, as in the quite delightful ‘Let it Snow.’ First part usually has the lead; second gets a turn in ‘Away in a Manger’ and ‘Have Yourself a Merry Christmas.’

Overall ranges: 1st A-flat-bflat1, 2nd A-flat-a1, 3rd AA-flat-f1. All parts are written in bass clef. 3rd is a bass trombone part; optional octave doublings are provided for notes in the trigger-pedal range. First needs a secure high register for selections such as ‘Mistletoe and Holly’ and ‘Go Tell It On The Mountain;’ others are less demanding. 

This is a wide-ranging collection of expert and enjoyable arrangements that will give any good trombone section something with which to delight their friends and loved ones in the Christmas Season.

-Keith Davies Jones
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada