Review

Antonio Vivaldi
Concerto for Two Alto Trombones:

Arranged by Neal Bennett

2 alto, 2 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 - 5 trombones

The original work, which is not identified in this publication, is the Concerto for Two Trumpets in C RV537. This arrangement is in E-flat, and comprises the first movement, Allegro, only. It is scored for two alto trombones, two tenor trombones and bass trombone, five parts.

Vivaldi (1676-1741) is not known to have written anything for the trombone*, but his style is well suited to the instrument. And thanks to some imaginative arrangers, over the last 60 years, several of his pieces have become a significant part of our ‘standard repertoire.’ In this arrangement, all players have interesting and well laid-out parts, with admirable economy of slide movement in all of them. First and second parts (alto), range b-flat-e-flat² and g-e-flat² respectively, and do not go below fourth position. Third part (tenor) has to extend beyond fourth position only twice and fourth part only three times. First and second parts contain mordents and trills are indicated in first. Third part is given in tenor clef and fourth in bass. Bass trombone, AA-flat-g, is probably the most difficult part; it  has no full measures of rest. Fourth and fifth have 10; alto trombones each have 26.

Originally from Langley British Columbia, Neal Bennett studied with Alain Trudel in Montréal and with Gordon Cherry in BC. He has performed with various ensembles, including I Tromboni, and is currently a professor at the Conservatoire de musique in Val-d’Or, Québec. This arrangement is on I Tromboni’s debut CD There Goes the Neighbourhood (2004).

*The trombon da caccia called for by Vivaldi in his opera Orlando finto pazzo, and the Concerto in F for violin, two tromboni da caccia, two oboes, and bassoon, RV574 (L’estro armonico) was almost certainly an alternative term for tromba da caccia, parts for which are indistinguishable from those for corno da caccia.