Review


Alexandre Guilmant
Morceau Symphonique: arranged for solo trombone and low brass choir

Arranged by Bud Caputo

solo trombone, two tenor trombones, bass trombone, euphonium, and tuba

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, United States
Publisher: Caputo Music
Date of Publication: 2014
URL: http://www.caputomusic.com

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with brass
Secondary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 6 trombones

Guilmant (1837-1911) was appointed as Professor of Organ at the Paris Conservatoire in 1896. This ‘Morceau de Concours’ was written in 1902 and is cast in E-flat minor. It has become one of the most popular solo works in USA. This arrangement is for solo trombone, two tenor trombones, bass trombone, euphonium, and tuba. It’s a well-laid out score; all players have interesting parts, and I think it will sound pretty good.

The solo trombone part is given in bass clef; range is BB-flat to c-sharp2; the majority of notes lie above the staff. For most of this part, tenor clef would have been a better choice in my opinion. First trombone in the choir tops out at c2, again with a lot of ledger lines; this part is quite challenging. Bass trombone range is E-flat-e-flat1. Some notes in the piano part have of necessity been omitted or taken down an octave; the arranger has successfully preserved all the essential elements of the original harmony. Unfortunately, the score is not produced to a professional standard; there is some overcrowding, especially in the cadenza; and there are misplaced notes and dynamics, numerous collisions and a spelling error. Dr. Caputo is trombone instructor at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, and a free-lance trombonist in the south Florida area.

Reviewer: Keith Davies Jones
Review Published June 15, 2023