Review

Jeff Reynolds
Four Psalms for Four Trombones:
Trombone quartet 3 tenor, 1 bass trombone

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2020
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

Mr. Reynolds on his arrangement: "Musical settings of The Psalms of David are a staple in the Compline world, and are indeed the musical nut of Compline. I composed these in modes for a choir of men, with countertenors and text, and thought these settings would be a soothing repast for the trombone world; maybe not for the 1st player. 

The lack of stems and meter is a way to get away from the rhythmic feel of western music and into the lumpy, arhythmic, text driven zone of chant. There are only 3 basic note lengths: a larger white note is a whole note; a smaller white note is a half note surrogate; and a black note is a quarter note. 

Be not anxious to get to the new phrase. Taking time for breaths is a good thing.

Psalm 130 is a Penitential Psalm, with music in the acerbic style of Igor Stravinsky after the 2nd trombone solo from the Russian Easter of Korsakov." 

Mr. Reynolds has written settings for Psalms 4, 91 Qui habitat, 130 De profundis, and 103. The Psalms are appropriate for moderately advanced to intermediate level performers. At first glance the music looks unusual: stemless noteheads in three values. Most of the parts move in close rhythmic unison, like chant. The music IS chant and by playing it [chanting?] we can come closer to the sound and mystical sense implied by chant performance. As Reynolds states above, the music is arhythmic, text driven and “lumpy,” and the players need to cultivate a flowing, relaxed approach.

As a learning experience, it is great for cultivating a real sense of group rhythm in a quartet, or its multiples, as well as a unified approach to phrasing, dynamics, and legato. If you have a group interested in church performance I can’t think of better music as part of a concert or a service. It is also beautiful music and may lead thoughtful players to a deeper look at music from the foundation of our western musical tradition. This is a new and exciting class of trombone music, which has not appeared enough in our training as trombonists and as such it is quite welcome. Congratulations, Jeff!