Review

Jean-Jacques Di Tucci
Incantation:

Paris, , France
Publisher: Gérard Billaudot Éditeur
Date of Publication: 2001

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - unaccompanied

This difficult work provides a challenging addition to the unaccompanied solo literature. Dedicated to Claude Dorel, it is just under five minutes in length. Two sections, marked Calme, quarter note=63, and Agité, eighth note=160, divide the piece. Di Tucci calls for some extended techniques, including singing and flutter tongue. The piece features frequent changing meter, and there are difficult rhythms throughout. The quintuplet sixteenth note pattern is the most common rhythmic motive, and the primary meters of the second half of the piece are 5/16 and 7/16. No apparent tonality is outlined in the piece. As with most unaccompanied works, endurance is something of a concern, as there is little opportunity for rest. The range, which spans E to c-sharp2, is wide, though not unreasonably difficult. This is a challenging contemporary work for the advanced trombonist.

-Will Kimball
Brigham Young University