Review

Robin Benton
Dance Suite :

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

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones
Secondary Genre: Elementary Material - ensemble

Dance Suite won the Junior Quartet division of the 2008 British Trombone Society Composing Competition. Cast in three movements that briefly visit Ragtime, Sarabande and Boogie styles, the suite effectively engages young trombonists in these somewhat familiar rhythmic feels and challenges them with syncopation, dynamic contrast and independent playing. The piece uses tonal centers of F (d minor), B-flat, and E-flat within the compass of two octaves, F-f1. Second and fifth position notes figure prominently in both melody and harmony. Rhythmic subdivisions are limited to eighth notes with the exception of dotted eighth, sixteenth figures, the basis of the Boogie movement. The music is fun and uses repetition to its advantage; youngsters will warm up to it right away. Dance Suite is not ‘study’ material; it is designed for live performance with or without doubling. All parts are afforded solo statements. This is great material to motivate and energize second or third year players. Score and parts are presented without impediment as we have come to expect from Warwick Music.

-Mike Hall
Old Dominion University