Review

George Gershwin
Three Preludes:

Arranged by Timothy Myers

3 tenors (2 in tenor clef), 1 bass

San Francisco, CA, United States
Publisher: Ascenda Music Publishing, LLC
Date of Publication: 2023
URL: http://www.ascendamusic.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

First performed by the composer at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City in 1926, George Gershwin had originally planned to compose 24 preludes for a work entitled The Melting Pot. This number was first reduced to seven, later to six, and finally upon publication to three. The Timothy Myers trombone quartet arrangement of Gershwin’s Three Preludes are set identically measure for measure to the original piano version.

While the harmonies are at times reduced, due to the limitation of only having four trombones, this is barely noticeable due to meticulous efforts to preserve Gershwin’s chord voicings. Myers also seems to have taken great care to ensure that this arrangement can practically be performed by four trombones. All three tenor trombone parts take turns resting, playing lower passages, and also performing the principal themes to ensure that everyone gets to play something interesting; no one is unreasonably fatigued by the end.

This arrangement is probably best suited for advanced players. The tenor parts are written up to f2 and require a great deal of flexibility and facility to navigate the angularity of the themes. There are rapid arpeggios, rips, and grace notes throughout. The parts and score are extremely well edited. For a capable quartet, Timothy Myers’ arrangement of the Gershwin Three Preludes is sure to be a crowd pleaser and a lot of fun to play on any recital program.