Review

Bruce Tychinski
Warmups for Trombone Choir: Vol. II Octets:

Flagstaff, AZ, United States
Publisher: Mountain Peak Music
Date of Publication: 2013
URL: http://www.mountainpeakmusic.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 8 trombones
Secondary Genre: Study Material - method

This is the book all of us that conduct trombone ensembles have thought about writing for years. Warmups for Trombone Choir is designed to cultivate blend, intonation, balance and coordination within the ensemble. The first volume is written for quartet and the second volume is expanded to eight parts. Most of these short exercises are simple whole note chorales using traditional and non-traditional harmonies, added 9th and 11th chords, and include modulations as well. There are also exercises at the end of the text that work on other valuable ensemble skills: bell tones, clusters, pass the motive, unison break out, etc. The author uses a variety of keys to keep things interesting and he leaves out dynamics so the conductor has the flexibility to try different possibilities. Volume I keeps ranges reasonable. The first part stays primarily between c1 and g1, though it does stretch to c2 a few times, and bass trombone stays mainly between E-flat and B-flat, occasionally reaching to BB-flat. Therefore the exercises are not too taxing and can accommodate younger or less mature ensembles. This volume will work well with a quartet or a full choir, and a tenor trombonist could certainly play the fourth part if needed. Volume II follows the format of Volume I with similar but new exercises and a more extended range and voicing; first trombone stays between b-flat1 and c2 for extended periods and trombone 8 is a true bass trombone part, remaining below the bass staff most of the time. These ranges require a more mature ensemble and are probably more suitable for advanced college groups, though in short intervals these exercises could provide an excellent development tool for less advanced groups seeking high register confidence. Tychinski has written an excellent skill-building tool for trombone ensembles with lots of flexibility and interesting challenges. 

-Tim Howe
University of Missouri