Review

John Kenny
Sonata for Tenor Trombone:

Coventry, , United Kingdom
Publisher: Warwick Music Publishers
Date of Publication: 2003
URL: http://www.warwickmusic.com

Score

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - unaccompanied

In the description of this work, the composer writes that it was created as a wedding present for composer, Paul Keenan, and choreographer, Jane Noonan. He also indicates that the first (of three) movements, “…treats its material in the manner of a baroque fantasia, based upon a melody in the style of an Irish lilt.” However, it is highly unlikely that this music would be familiar to any wedding planner, based on its rhythmic and tonal characteristics. Admitting to his own inherent desires to teach contemporary playing techniques, he clearly wants to expand the expressive range of the trombone and only subsequently to that task did he produce this piece for recital.

The promise of this piece as a teaching tool is evidenced by the “extended techniques” it utilizes: lip flexibility, multi-phonics, doodle tonguing, various aural effects, circular breathing and manipulating vowel sounds during long tones. The limitations of this piece result from an implied anticipation that simple instructions suffice to fully understand the techniques involved.  A self-learner, without expert guidance, will likely find it difficult if not impossible to interpret all that is found here. Furthermore, anyone unfamiliar with his other works might not necessarily interpret some of his notational devices, which are more clearly explained in other compositions.

Challenges abound with the trombone reaching from GG to f2 and the vocal sounds extending from e-flat to b-flat1 and beyond (as high as possible). Extremes of dynamic contrast, articulations and facility are intermixed with tuneful and playful moments. Alternating between strictly notated and expansively free sections, this work is likely to serve educators and performers of contemporary trombone literature.

-Bradley J. Payne
Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra