Anders Eliasson
Disegno per trombone:
Stockholm, , Sweden
Publisher: Edition Reimers
Date of Publication: 1985
Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - unaccompanied
Disegno per trombone:
Stockholm, , Sweden
Publisher: Edition Reimers
Date of Publication: 1985
Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - unaccompanied
Disegno per trombone by Swedish composer Anders Eliasson is a quick, power-packed work for solo trombone. A pervasive rhythmic drive remains steady throughout the work and is characterized by short motivic statements. The piece presents a nervous, frenzied style where rhythm, articulation and extreme dynamic contrasts are explored within a rather static melodic content. The opening fanfare-like, repeated b-flat in quarter-note triplets establishes a theme of sorts, where punctuation and effect are paramount. As the piece progresses, both rhythm and range are developed and widened, spreading out like a fan. The music gradually returns to the opening static, quarter-note triplet figures to finish, but in doing so never loses the intensity established from the beginning. The tempo (marked quarter=126-138) presents a challenge to the performer, especially when considering the frequent poco accelerando passages that push the music forward to a wilder plane. Always returning to a tempo, the music is allowed time to breathe a bit, only to take off again. It is notated in a traditional manner with time signatures of 3/4 and 4/4 exclusively. Eliasson demonstrates a thorough understanding of the trombone in Disegno. The music lies well on the instrument and brings out, in expert fashion, idiomatic features such as glissando and alternate positions for tonal variety. Range is E to d-flat2 and is written primarily in tenor clef. The score is available from both Theodore Presser and the publisher. Disegno is a powerful, well-written work requiring great virtuosity. Those up to the challenge will certainly find it well worth the effort. -Bill Mathis Bowling Green State University