Review

John Frith
Three Duets:
Tenor and bass trombones

Coventry, , United Kingdom
Publisher: Warwick Music Limited
Date of Publication: 2007
URL: http://www.warwickmusic.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 2 trombones

Finding challenging and quality material for tenor and bass trombone duet can be difficult. John Frith gives us an excellent work in this genre. It requires fairly advanced ability, but not out of reach from most strong college or conservatory players. Mr. Frith has written several works for brass. He has been active as a composer, horn player and teacher. He is now in semi-retirement, devoting much of his time to composition, which includes writing for trombone.

Three Duets were written for Jonathon Warburton and Philippa Done. The movements are all brief, well crafted, fun to play, and demonstrate the character of the movement title. The three movements are marked: I. High - Hopes, Moderato, quarter=86, in 2/4 meter, 3:00; II. Doubts and Fears, Andante con moto, quarter=60, in ¾ meter, 4:30; Feeling Good!, Vivo, quarter=106 in 4/4 meter, 2:30. Both parts are in bass clef with well planned page turns. There is also a B-flat treble clef part provided for the tenor trombone. Overall ranges are: tenor F–b-flat1; bass FF–f1. 

These movements are well written and superbly conceived for the combination. It should be noted that in the last duet there is a 2/4 bar with no indication that it returns to 4/4 in the next measure. Both parts incorporate glissandos in Feeling Good! that work well on the instruments, however the bass will need a double trigger. The technical passages consist primarily of sixteenth scale or arpeggio work. Frith uses both instruments in a complimentary manner that makes these duets a joy to play and program. The Warwick web site provides a sample score page and sound clip.

-Robert Kehle
Pittsburg State University