Review

William Reichenbach
Fanfares, Questions and Answers:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2012 / 2024
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score, solo part

Primary Genre: Solo Bass/Contrabass Trombone - with band

Noted composer, performer, and recording artist Bill Reichenbach has contributed yet another substantial work to the trombone repertoire with Fanfares, Questions and Answers for Solo Bass Trombone and Wind Ensemble. The work is scored for an expansive collegiate or professional-level wind ensemble with a challenging, lyrical solo part for an accomplished and musically mature soloist who is comfortable utilizing rubato in multiple exposed scalar and arpeggiated passages that traverse registers, from the pedal range up to above the bass clef staff. The expansive instrumentation list includes: Woodwinds (Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, English Horn, 2 Bassoons 1, 3 Clarinets in B-flat, Bass Clarinet, 2 Alto Saxophones, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone), Brass (3 Trumpets in B-flat, 4 French Horns in F, 2 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Euphonium, and Tuba), Double Bass, Percussion (Harp, Double Bass, Timpani, Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, Tubular Bells, Marimba, Snare Drum, Field Drum, Bass Drum, Piatti, and Suspended Cymbal), and Solo Bass Trombone.

Composed as a continuous single-movement work, Fanfares, Questions and Answers flows seamlessly through three programmatic phases without pause. The work opens with two brief, dramatic fanfares stated in the brass and percussion that are immediately followed by short cadenza-like passages in the solo bass trombone, which then transitions into a lyrical, expressive central section featuring the soloist. The soloist weaves continuously through ensemble dialogues and cadenza-like passages, while the central section highlights short, prominent solo passages for solo tuba and solo trumpet within the ensemble. The piece culminates in a triumphant, fast-paced finale driven prominently by the brass.

A fantastic live performance of the work is available on the Cherry Classics website featuring the composer as soloist with the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own”. This work is a worthy addition to the wind ensemble repertoire and presents an exceptional showcase for advanced bass trombonists who are comfortable using rubato in soloistic passages. Additionally, the technical demands of the work build for the soloist as it builds toward the exciting conclusion with fast articulated passagework that alternates between triple and quadruple beat subdivisions and quickly shifting tonal centers. The solo part contains a conservative upper register venturing no higher than an f1, and a comfortable pedal register with frequent Pedal Gs and one instance of a sustained low Pedal E at a piano dynamic. With its engaging structure and dynamic soloist-ensemble interplay, Reichenbach’s work represents a major contribution to the concerto repertoire for low brass and wind band, deserving of frequent performance.