Review

Niels-Ole Bo Johansen
Four unpretentious fanfares:
2 B-flat trumpets, 2 trombones

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

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 4 brass

These brief fanfares, 8 to 16 measures in 3/4 or 4/4 meters, are scored for two B-flat trumpets and two trombones. They are titled: For an Occasion (B-flat), Organ Grinders (B-flat minor), Pianists: Lethargic, consistent and insisting (G-flat) and Ordinary People (B-flat). They feature a wide range of indications from Energico in For an Occasion and Ordinary People, to Lethargic, Pianists, but all are marked at quarter = 100. All of them are based on repeated note patterns. Pianists play a simple four-finger exercise, ascending and descending; Ordinary People get a three-note pattern, all slightly out of step, and maybe a little Lingua in Gota.

It appears that the composer may share some of the quirkiness of his great compatriot Carl Nielsen, and clearly, these pieces are meant to be fun. I think the first would be excellent as a short fanfare to open a recital, and the last as a final encore. Trombone parts are of moderate difficulty, given in bass clef: overall range for Trb. 1 is B-flat-g-flat¹, and for Trb. 2, F-f¹. First trumpet tops out at g² and second at e². Most of the notes in all parts are marked either staccato or marcato. Dynamic range is mezzo piano to forte. Niels-Ole Bo Johansen is a full professor at the Royal Academy of Music in Aarhus, Denmark, and has performed and recorded extensively as a trombonist.