Review

Peter Warlock
Capriol Suite:

Arranged by Andrew Poirier


Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2010
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 8 trombones

The Capriol Suite is a collection of Renaissance-style dances composed in October 1926 by the late Peter Warlock. Peter Warlock was the pseudonym of Philip Arnold Heseltine, a mostly self-taught musician, music critic and one time editor of the British musical magazine “The Sackbut.” The Capriol Suite is considered one of his best works.  Originally written as a piano duet, Warlock also scored it for both string and full orchestras. Mr. Poirier’s solid arrangement of all six movements balances melody and harmony well using two alto, two bass and four tenor trombones. It does appear, however, to be intended for more experienced players capable of d2 in both alto parts and b1 in the first tenor part.

-Donald Babcock
Eastern Michigan University