Review

Ben Kon
Quartet:

,
Publisher: Wehr's Music House
Date of Publication: 2010
URL: http://www.wehrs-music-house.com

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

This piece is an effective, if limited work. For most of it, Kon makes almost exclusive use of the opening theme by re-casting it in various tonalities. The central section of the work consists of a highly truncated version of the opening material in different rhythmic guises. Another constant is the highly imitative texture that allows each part to be featured, a plus in appealing to performers' willingness to learn their parts.

Quartet ranges from BB-flat in the fourth part to c2 in the first part, which is written in tenor clef. Because of its brevity and mono thematic qualities, the piece can serve as an effective ensemble builder by encouraging each part to match style. Quartet can fare well in recital if paired with a longer piece that is not quite so reliant on a single musical element. 

-Joel Elias
Sacramento State University