Review

Alan Danahy
Adjustments for Solo Tenor Trombone:

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

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - unaccompanied

Alan Danahy (b.1987) was a student at the Eastman School of Music when he wrote this piece for Cy Reynolds, who premiered it at Eastman in 2008. The composer provides extensive notes on this work, which is in a contemporary, atonal idiom. It is comprised of eleven distinct and contrasted sections, some separated by eight second rests, based on twelve tone rows juxtaposed with ‘pitch class sets’ derived from octatonic scales. The intersections of these two elements are complex, and the level of compositional skill is high. It is technically challenging and demands on the performer are significant. It is also musically interesting and melodically attractive.

Range extends D to b1 (optional e2). Cup, straight and plunger mutes are required. The expressive and dynamic range is wide. The opening section is marked Boldly (quarter = 74-78). This is followed by quicker sections leading to a 35-second improvised section which calls for ‘obscure rhythms, varied articulations and dynamics and use of multiphonics’. Multiphonic glissandi are used in the following composed section Very slow, lyrical (quarter = 60) which calls for a straight mute. The penultimate section, Mysteriously (quarter = 50) is muted; the final section, Very fast (dotted quarter = 145), and then, Faster (dotted quarter =152), concludes fff on a staccatissimo 1/16th marked dramatic! This is a successful piece and I am sure it will find a place in the repertoire of many expert trombonists. I look forward to seeing more of this composer’s work. Warwick’s production is, as usual, exemplary.

-Keith Davies Jones
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada