Review

Alexandre Guilmant
Morceau Symphonique: for Solo Trombone and Trombone Ensemble

Arranged by Bob Burnham

7 tenors (one in tenor clef), 1 bass

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

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with brass
Secondary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 8 trombones

This arrangement for solo trombone and accompanying septet provides a new setting for an old standard. Félix-Alexandre Guilmant was an organist and composer who ultimately became the organ professor at the Paris Conservatory in 1897. This piece was the annual Concours piece first used in 1902 and then again in 1928.

This arrangement by Bob Burnham stays close to the original. Most of the accompanying ensemble's melodic content falls to the 2nd trombone which frequently goes up to b-flat1 with an optional e-flat2 near the end. The bass part ranges down to AA. The arrangement does give other parts something interesting to do here and there. Near the end of the arrangement, there are some tricky perfect 5th triplet figures for the lower parts. Those may be tough to pull off elegantly at higher tempos. In various places the scoring is rather thick. I do worry how loud the soloist will need to play to be heard above the ensemble. This is definitely not one for doubled parts behind the soloist. 

All in all, the arrangement is fairly well done. It might make a nice addition to a concert or even a recital program. The parts from Cherry Classics are clean and well-prepared. Of course you know what you’re getting with this piece. Just be careful about the balance.