Review

Ellinor Peterson
Probably Alright Now:
3 trumpets and 4 trombones

Linkoping, , Sweden
Publisher: Ellinor Petersen
Date of Publication: 2012
URL: http://www.ellinorpetersen.com

Score and parts

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

Ellinor Petersen is a composer, poet, and vocalist currently working in Stockholm, Sweden. She has composed a handful of works for brass that include two for trombone ensemble and one for brass septet. Probably Alright Now for brass septet is an arrangement of one of the original songs from Petersen’s music drama, The Fire-Apple. It was composed and premiered at the University of Maine in 2012. The music represents a scene in The Fire-Apple where a mother of teenage kids has fallen ill and they journey to find a cure. Probably Alright Now is a three-movement work scored for three trumpets, three tenor trombones, and one bass trombone. Range extends from c-sharp1 to d3 in trumpet 1, from b to b2 in trumpet 2, from a to b2 in trumpet 3, from e to c2 in trombone 1, from e to b1 in trombone 2, from e to g-sharp1 in trombone 3, and from E to e1 in bass trombone. Trumpets require straight and cup mutes while trombones only require cup. Tenor clef appears frequently in trombone 1 and occasionally in the trombone 2 part.

 

The first movement titled, Sick and Gone is dance-like and features repetition of a four-note motive set in imitation throughout the ensemble. Eventually the motive expands into a lyrical solo passage that features trombone. This movement also requires the execution of glissandi, flutter-tongue and use of mutes. The second movement is titled Must. Change. Soon. It can be described as a short choral-like movement that could be easily associated with incidental music during set changes of a play or musical. Would Be Nice is the title of the third and final movement. It features a similar four-note motive as in the first movement with added harmonic development and rhythmic variance. The score is clean, easy to read, and the writing for each instrument is fine with the exception of one instance in which trombone 1 is marked to perform a glissandi spanning more than the chromatic range of a partial on the instrument. This work contains some difficult moments due to trombone range, but should be playable by musicians ranging from college to professional levels.