Review

Arthur Pryor
Blue Bells of Scotland:

Arranged by Andrew Poirier

4 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

Pryor (1869-1942) wrote this virtuoso showpiece c1899 while he was with the Sousa Band (1892-1902). From then until 1933 he directed his own band. He was the composer of some 300 pieces.

This arrangement is for four tenor trombones and bass trombone. Parts 3-5 are in bass clef; Part 2 is in tenor clef. The virtuosic First part, which is the soloist, is given in bass clef. Its overall range is F–f². The opening cadenza goes up to c² and down to F. Second part is also quite demanding, topping out several times at c². Bass trombone has a cadenza at m23. There is a divisi in Third part at m62 and this is the only indication that the arrangement is intended for more than one player per part. The four upper parts take turns in the cadenza at m92, all topping out on c². All the notes, however, are included in all the parts, and the stronger players can ‘take over’ if necessary.

The original composition, ‘Bluebells of Scotland’ is attributed to Dorothea Jordan, who was born in Ireland in 1761 and died in France in 1816. From 1791 to 1811 she was the mistress of The Duke of Clarence, subsequently King William IV (1830-1837), and had 10 ‘illegitimate’ children by him. ‘Bluebells’ was written in 1801. The Duke may have been at one of the royal residences in Scotland at the time. For some reason, Pryor’s arrangement is usually seen with an incorrect spelling, as on this publication, which is in Cherry’s iTromboni series. Bluebells (Hyacinthoides Non-scripta) are a common wild flower in many parts of Britain. Confusingly, in Scotland the name usually refers to the Harebell (Campanula rotundifola). Andrew Poirier is a member of iTromboni and of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.