Review


Dan Kramer
Circus Vignettes:
2 trumpets, 2 horns, 2 trombones, tuba

Cedartown, Georgia, United States
Publisher: Potenza Music Publishing
Date of Publication: 2012 / 2016
URL: http://www.potenzamusic.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 6+ brass (choir)

Circus Vignettes is a six-movement brass septet for pairs of trumpets, horns, and trombones and one tuba. As the title suggests, the movements are short, and evoke a trip to the circus with provocative titles: At the Midway, Flea Circus, Pickled Punks, The Strong Man, The Figi Mermaid and The Bed of Nails. The piece is intended to be performed as a series of vignettes that come together to tell the story, but the composer indicates, in his introduction, that some of the movements may be performed as stand-alone pieces.

Articulations, dynamics, and expression indications are quite clear. All of the movements require strong technique, attention to detail and endurance. Straight mutes are required of all instruments, and "Harmon Mute, No Stem" is indicated occasionally in the trumpet parts. Rhythms and meters are straightforward, but there are occasional rhythmic complexities worth attention, i.e. seven notes against five and three notes in Pickled Punks. The second movement, Flea Circus, indicates a tempo of eighth note equals 174, and there are short thirty-second note passages that will most likely require double tonguing in every part. The highest note in the first trumpet part is b² but this part extends only occasionally into the upper range. The range of the tuba part, however, extends more than three octaves from BBB to d¹.

This piece is suitable for professional or strong collegiate level ensembles. The light-hearted, programmatic nature of the story is complemented by strong brass writing, making this piece appropriate for a degree recital, a brass choir concert, or as incidental music for gigging musicians.

 

 

Reviewer: Sean Reed
Review Published June 15, 2023