Review

Brian Pappal
In Memoriam: A Chorale after Bruckner:
2 tenor, 1 bass trombone

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2018
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 3 trombones

In February of 2017, the trombone community lost a talented, admired, and influential musician with the passing of Murray Crewe. A longtime member of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and faculty member at Duquesne University, his loss was felt by many. Composer Brian Pappal, once a student of Murray’s at Duquesne, creates a fitting memorial with his composition In Memoriam: A Chorale after Bruckner. Inspired by Murray’s love of Bruckner motets, this piece draws its harmonic and melodic languages from Bruckner’s music and also calls to mind the long history of “equale” music used for memorial occasions.

The piece is set for a trio of two tenor trombones and bass trombone; the highest part may be played on alto trombone at the performer’s option. While as a chorale it is not rhythmically complex, it will require mature players to handle the musical content and intonation of Bruckner-style extended harmonies. The bass trombone part requires a player whose range extends from BB-flat to g1. The second tenor trombone part stretches to b-flat1. The highest part requires a player with endurance in the high range as the part reaches d2 and generally lingers in the upper register. All three parts and the score are clearly and thoughtfully laid out. Initially, Pappal made the piece available as a free download. It is now available as part of the extensive catalog of Cherry Classics Music in Vancouver.

I was fortunate enough to hear the premier of this piece at the 2018 International Trombone Festival, performed by Paul Pollard, James Nova, Crewe’s PSO colleague, and David Binder; I found the performance quite moving. Those who enjoy the sonorities of Bruckner’s chorale works will enjoy this piece. It is both a beautiful piece in its own right and a fitting tribute to a respected musician.