Review

Mickey Nicolas
Rhizome:

Paris, , France
Publisher: Gérard Billaudot Éditeur
Date of Publication: 1990

Piano score and solo part

Primary Genre: Elementary Material - solo
Secondary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

Rhizomes are underground horizontal growing stems of plants that send up leafy shoots that appear to be separate plants. It’s a design rich in metaphoric potential. I suspect that the metaphoric connection to this piece has something to do with the overtone phenomenon. There is a melodic design to this elementary level piece but the most prominent feature is the sonority and resonance of the sustained chords in the piano and the sustained notes of the trombone. The solo part is mostly a melodic long tone study inspiring the player to produce full, beautiful sounds and fit them into the rich chordal texture of the piano. It is effectively written and offers a welcome contrast to the typical accompanied tune format of many beginner and intermediate level solo pieces. The pitch range of the solo part is B-flat to e-flat1. Tempo is Moderato with the quarter note at 84. Dynamic level is mostly forte and mezzo forte with a few measures of piano.  

-Art Jennings
University of Florida