Review

John Frith
Pageant With Sirens:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2008
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

The English composer John Frith dedicates this advanced quartet to Steve Wilson and the Continental Trombone Quartet. Its two movements flow together without pause. The first movement is marked Allegro, the second Vivo, at twice the tempo of the first movement. The first movement’s defining feature is intricate interplay of rhythm between parts. The opening motive is passed between voices and is increasingly juxtaposed against alternating duplet and triplet patterns in other voices. The first and second parts often work together using similar material while the third and fourth parts oppose them with rhythmically contrasting material. In the second movement, the four parts work together more frequently and generally in a legato style. Both movements make use of glissandi in all four parts. 

Cherry Classics Music provides an audio and PDF sample on their website that gives interested performers a glance at the complexity of this piece. It requires an advanced collegiate or professional group due to its intricate rhythms, technique and range. Hemiola abounds and meter changes are widespread, often involving changes from simple to compound meter. First and second parts use bass and tenor clef, third and fourth parts use bass clef. Range is extreme at times; the first part spans d-sharp to e2 and the fourth part EE to e1. The third part requires a tenor trombone with F-attachment. Score and parts are well edited with helpful clef changes and useful rehearsal letters. An effective performance will require study and rehearsal by four advanced trombonists. 

-Andrew Converse
San Antonio, TX