Review

Bill Reichenbach
Streets of Paris:
Solo trombone and wind ensemble

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

Score and solo part

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with band

Streets of Paris was commissioned by Riverside City College, California State University, Fullerton College, Irvine Valley College, Mount San Antonio College, Ohio University, University of Redlands and Upland High School. It is dedicated to Larry Zalkind, who gave the premiere at Riverside City College in March 2009.

Scoring includes: Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, English Horn, 2 Bassoons, 3 B-flat Clarinets, Bass Clarinet, 2 Alto Saxophones, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, 3 Trumpets in B-flat, 4 Horns, 2 Tenor Trombones, Bass Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, Timpani; Percussion 1: Snare Drum, Tom Tom, Suspended Cymbal; Percussion 2: Piatti (cymbals), Bass Drum, Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine; Tubular Bells & Glockenspiel (1 player); Marimba & Vibraphone (2 players) - 34 players.

For a descriptive analysis of this piece, my review of the version for trombone and piano may be referenced in ITA Journal Vol.46 No.3, 2018, pp.41/42. Streets of Paris is an exhilarating and high-energy work in which the available tonal palate is skillfully exploited. The full ensemble is used quite generously, with striking contrast in the more lightly scored sections, which give the brass players adequate measures of rest. First trombone tops out near the end at a-flat1; there are no other significant difficulties. Range for second trombone is G-f1. No mutes are required. Following normal practice in film-scoring, key signatures are not used, except for Cor Anglais, which appears to have been a ‘late addition.’ Its part has been copied from the clarinet parts, which it doubles, carrying over a key signature that results in 25 accidentals more than would be needed without it. Other parts also are extensively doubled, including flutes and oboes and first and second trumpet; this piece could be played with a few less than the full complement of parts. It ends as emphatically as it began, on a tutti chord of B-flat major, the soloist soaring on a high b-flat. The solo part is of exemplary clarity and is well laid out.

Bill Reichenbach was born in 1949. He studied at the Eastman School of Music and has worked extensively in Hollywood. This colourful score, quite evocative of the sights and sounds of the Parisian streets, is evidence of his experience in this field. An exemplary performance by Larry Zalkind and the Eastman Wind Ensemble is available from Cherry Classics on Sound Cloud.