Review

Mark Nightingale
Our House:

Coventry, , United Kingdom
Publisher: Warwick Music Publishers
Date of Publication: 2009
URL: http://www.warwickmusic.com

score and parts

Primary Genre: Jazz Material - ensemble
Secondary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with orchestra

Trombonist Mark Nightingale composed this work for the 2009 International Trombone Festival, inspired by its host city Aarhus, Denmark (the title is a play on the city name) and by his family members, writing a movement dedicated to his wife, daughter, and son. The orchestration is for solo jazz trombone, two violins, viola, cello, classical double bass, flute, oboe doubling cor anglais, B-flat clarinet doubling bass clarinet, bassoon, B-flat trumpet, horn, tenor trombone, classical piano, harp, and one percussionist playing glockenspiel, vibraphone, snare drum, and bass drum. The first four score pages can be seen and a brief MIDI mp3 heard at the publisher’s site, www.warwickmusic.com.

The initial Scherzo is a jaunty piece in a two-feel, in the style of an English country dance. After its pleasing exposition the soloist improvises over the ensemble’s varying backgrounds. The chord changes are readily accessible for anyone used to the ii-V’s of standard tunes, with A sections in E-flat and a bridge in G before the tune recaps in E.

The Lento movement opens with a woodwind/string chorale yielding to muted brass with harp and piano, welcoming the beautiful solo melody in F, ensuing improvised solo, and tune-recap in G. A brief transition moves towards the B-flat Presto final movement and its march quality, where the initial melody repeats in a series of Arban-like ornamented variations. A 6/8 ‘Listesso passage in G minor propels towards a brief ad-lib solo section before returning to duple meter and a more extended solo section in B-flat with playful backgrounds.

The chamber orchestra ranges are moderate; and though members must play in sixteenth-runs at times, their parts are well within an average level of difficulty. Only four of the soloist’s pitches fall below c; so a trigger-horn is not required; and though the upper range for the movements extends to high c-sharp2, d2, and ultimately one high f2, edits could certainly be made if all else in the part were attainable. The solo part is all bass clef, and the entire score is playable by more experienced university students.

Movements span 5-7 minutes each. The notation is extremely readable, printed in high quality. Of small concern is that while the notation reveals the phrasing quality for the chamber winds, it does not accommodate breathing needs, as the phrases are often quite long. So you will need to add markings in rehearsal.

It is clear that Mark Nightingale set out to write a jazz trombone concerto that would be accessible to play, bridge written and unwritten parts, be fun for all involved to perform, and bring delight to the listener. Achieved!

-Antonio J. García
Virginia Commonwealth University