Review

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Four Renaissance Movements:

Arranged by Roy Emiliani


Portland, ME, United States
Publisher: Manduca Music Publications
Date of Publication: 1997

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 6 trombones

These movements are arranged from sections of the 6-part mass, Ecce Ego Joannes, for 4 tenor and 2 bass trombones: 1. Kyrie 2. Gloria (to miserere nobis) 3. Hosanna  (Benedictus) 4. Gloria (from qui tollis). Optional alto trombone is suggested for the first part, but the part is printed in tenor clef only, range is b-flat–b-flat1. Ranges of the other parts are 2nd e-flat–e-flat1, 3rd B-flat-e-flat1, 4th B-flat–c1, 5th F–g and 6th BB-flat–f.

Each part is, of course, an independent voice in a polyphonic choir, and must be played in a vocal style. However, there is no indication of the natural phrasing determined by the text, and I think this is a shortcoming. There is a profusion of editorial dynamic markings and articulations, and two variations added to the Hosanna introducing rhythmic elements including triplet figures, all of which are alien to this composer’s style and period. This is therefore a somewhat free adaptation, (acknowledged in the work’s title), and not for the purist. However, it is well written for the medium of trombone choir. Score and parts are well produced.

-Keith Davies Jones
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada