Review

Henry Purcell
Little Purcell Suite:

Arranged by Ronald C. Dishinger


Owensboro, KY, United States
Publisher: Medici Music Press
Date of Publication: 1993

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Elementary Material - ensemble
Secondary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

Ronald Dishinger has arranged many works for various ensembles at an easy grade level. He marks this trombone quartet as grade 2-3, which accurately reflects its difficulty level. All parts are in bass clef and do not go above a d1. The fourth part goes down to F. The work consists of four short movements that are best played attaca. The first is a march at a moderate tempo, quarter=96, followed by a song in triple meter, also a moderate tempo, quarter=84, then a Menuet marked quarter=104, and ending with a march, quarter=84. The work begins and ends in F major with the Menuet in C major. Both keys are playable by young trombonists. With the exception of a few sixteenth notes in the first part the most difficult technical portions are a few eighth note lines in all parts and some skips in the bass part near the end. The tempo and meter shifts add life to the piece and help make it worthwhile for the young quartet. Young players will have to work, but will find it accessible.

-Robert Kehle
Pittsburg State University