Review

Michael Becker
Long Tone Duets for Tenor and Bass Trombones: : Style and Articulation

Flagstaff, Arizona, United States
Publisher: Mountain Peak Music
Date of Publication: 2015
Language: English

Method book. 43 pages.

Primary Genre: Study Material - etude
Secondary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 2 trombones

Divided into three sections, “Two Tenor Trombones,” “Tenor and Bass Trombones or Two Tenor Trombones,” and “Two Bass Trombones,” this method book engages the necessity of long tones, articulation, and musicianship in a creative duet setting. A compact disc is included for those that want to work alone. Explanations of the objective of each duet are given at the front of the book to ensure optimal space in the actual music. Directions such as “4 clicks up front” are listed for ease of working with the CD. Many styles and standard excerpts are used as the basis of the 30 duets. Beginning with four exercises adapted from the Remington long tones, other subtitles include Quasi-Brahms, Ping!, Circle of Fourths, Quasi Pines, Cherry Picking, Dies Irae, and The Dragon. Contained in the introductory remarks is the essence of the objective of this book, “Great sound starts with immediate and free-flowing air… Great articulation can only be achieved with free air.” In addition to the intense intonation requirements, the listening involved in matching articulations, dynamics, and timbre is tremendous. For those that have students who attend lessons without proper warm-up or those of us who maintain our playing ability through demonstration and interaction during the lesson, this book provides a fantastic way to address these issues at the beginning of any lesson in a three to five minute time span. The layout is logical and easy to navigate and you will not be disappointed investing in this book.