Review

Leonardo Velázquez
Tres Piezas:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 1995 / 2024
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - unaccompanied

Leonardo Velázquez (1935-2004) was a Mexican composer who was well-versed in symphonic compositions, solo works, chamber music, and scores for film and television. His three movement work Tres Piezas para trombón solo is part of a larger cycle of pieces he wrote for trombone in the following groups: three pieces for solo trombone, three pieces for trombone duet, and three pieces for trombone trio.

Tres Piezas is a work for unaccompanied trombone with each movement presented as a brief vignette in different styles. Movement one, Allegro scherando, features meter changes between 5/8 and 6/8 with technical challenges as he mixes triple and duple rhythmic figures. The movement frequently switches between bass and tenor clefs with the upper range capping at a1. The second movement, Andantino quasi lento, though lyrical in nature, still provides a technical challenge as Velázquez weaves complex rhythms into this simple triple meter. Like the first movement, it alternates between bass and tenor clefs which is perfect clef practice for a young musician. The final movement, Allegro moderato, is energetic and exciting with syncopated rhythms and terraced dynamics. This movement stays in bass clef for the duration with its range extending down to G. The middle portion of the movement uses a unique compositional technique where he has written in two lines for the solo player to read. The soloist accompanies themself by playing bass notes in between the melodic line, giving the impression of two trombonists simultaneously playing. 

This piece would provide a nice challenge for younger undergraduate students as an exercise in clef and meter changes. In addition, programming it on a recital would create a welcome chop break and change of timbre with its unaccompanied nature.