Review

Heinrich Isaac
Four Sacred Motets: for Trombone Quartet

Arranged by Jeff Reynolds

Three tenor, one bass trombone

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher:
Date of Publication: 2019
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

Four Sacred Motets is a trombone quartet arrangement of imitative, polyphonic compositions from the Franco-Flemish, Renaissance composer Heinrich Isaac. Any of the four short pieces could be performed as a stand-alone composition. Inner movements include intonations (as brief preludes) from the bass trombone, reminiscent of a sacred vocal setting, and lending cohesiveness to the four pieces as a suite with a liturgical backdrop.

The first and second parts utilize tenor clef, and the first part is significantly higher than the other three parts, with a highest note of f¹. The lowest note in the fourth part is E-flat, making the piece playable by four tenor trombones. An optimal blend might be created by using bass trombone on fourth and alto on first.

This arrangement will function well for an advanced/professional quartet or, with doubling, as a trombone choir piece. It features terraced dynamics, interesting, but not overly-complicated rhythms, and will also be at home in a ceremonial setting.