Review

David Lawrence Ritt
Melodious Trio Accompaniments: to harmonize Etudes 1-32 of Joannes Rochut

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

Parts two and three of trios to accompany Rochut Melodious Etudes

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with brass
Secondary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 3 trombones

David Ritt has followed up his duet versions for the Bordogni/Rochut Melodious Etudes with a version for trombone trio. The first part is the original vocalise, and Ritt has written a tenor and bass trombone part to create a trio for No.’s 1-32. The intent is to create an additional pedagogical element to our most familiar melodic etude collection, focusing on intonation, rhythmic coordination, and ensemble playing. Ritt provides some excellent performance and technical guidelines in the preface. These additional parts are not the simple piano accompaniments from the original. Ritt has created parts that sometimes move with the lead part in unison or harmony, sometimes fill in arpeggiation, and even move in canon or counterpoint with the main melodic line (ex. No. 6). The voicing is very close at times, which puts the lower parts in the lower half of the register, thus creating some serious slide technique that is playable, but challenging (ex. No. 23 and No. 12). The arrangements are excellent and should provide valuable study in ensemble playing. Note: this publication only provides a trombone 2 and bass trombone score. While not completely necessary, it would be useful to have all three parts in a score to help player and teacher understand the melodic and harmonic content.