Review

Giuseppe Concone
Sixteen Concone Duets for Trombone or Euphonium: Volume 2

Arranged by Ran Whitley

Two trombones or euphoniums

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

Etude book. 38 pages.

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 2 trombones

Giuseppe Concone (1801- 1861) was a composer of opera, but most celebrated in his day as a voice teacher, and known today for his vocal exercises, solfeggi and vocalizzi, which are more melodious and interesting than the usual pieces of this sort. He published 178 duet studies; those included in this set have been selected from Opp.9, 12 and 17. They are predominantly in flat keys, but signatures run from five flats to four sharps. Both parts lie mostly in mid-range and are given in bass clef throughout; the overall ranges are F-a-flat¹ in first part and F-g¹ in second. These duets are of especial value in achieving good intonation, and a vocal style of phrasing, and in control of dynamics, pp - ff, with crescendo or diminuendo marked in almost every measure. There are few rests in either part, and there will also be many challenges in achieving good breath control over long phrases, and also in page-turning, which may serve as a helpful stimulus to memory. Dr. Whitley is Professor of Music at Campbell University, NC.  The first volume of his duet arrangements was published in 2017.