Review

Jeremy Niles Kempton
Stolen Treasures:

Teaneck, NJ, United States
Publisher: Puna Music Company
Date of Publication: 2005

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 2 trombones

Stolen Treasures is a collection of 18 duets which Jeremy Niles Kempton has chosen from a variety of popular sources. Many of these pieces, such as the “Tuba Mirum” from Mozart’s Requiem Mass, will be especially familiar to trombonists. Anyone who has spent any time in an opera orchestra will enjoy his arrangements of “Di Provenza il mar” from Verdi’s La Traviata and “Una Furtiva Lagrima” from Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore. Also included are three pieces from Handel’s Messiah, including the famous aria “Let us Break their Bonds Asunder.” Mr. Kempton has also composed accompaniments to six Bordogni Etudes, specifically numbers 43, 48, 51, 54, 85 and 91 from the Rochut edition. Last but not least are four duos arranged specifically with the alto trombone in mind for the first part. The part could just as well be played on tenor trombone; its range does not rise above c1.

Like most music for two trombones, this collection is most useful for reading and didactic purposes, though most will find it quite enjoyable. It is worth noting that most of these duets are not simply transcriptions, but in many cases, Mr. Kempton has gone to considerable lengths to reduce solos with complex orchestral accompaniments into imaginative two-part counterpoint. Also noteworthy is his ability to divide interesting melodic material between both parts. Except for the last four duets, which give the first part in alto clef, the rest have a ratio of about four parts bass clef to one part tenor clef. Print quality is generally quite good with care given to minimize page turn problems. The book is spiral bound with plastic spine and cover.

-Wayne Groves
Aguascalientes, Mexico