Review

Ralph Vaughan Williams
Prelude to the Movie "The 49th Parallel":

Arranged by Russell McKinney

5 tenors (2 in tenor clef), 2 basses

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2022
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 7 trombones

The Prelude is arranged from the opening movement of an orchestra suite created by Vaughan Williams based on his film score written by the composer for the movie “The 49th Parallel” from 1941. The music contains a beautiful, lush, and sweeping melody with simple accompaniment typical of mid-twentieth century movie scores. The melodic material is alternated in the first and second trombone parts while the rest of the ensemble provides harmonic support. It has been transposed down a fifth to make it more accessible to trombone choir. This arrangement can easily be played by a high school or college ensemble and will provide a lyrical contrast to any trombone choir program. Range AA to c2. Grade 3.