Review

Traditional
Loch Lomond:

Arranged by Mike Forbes


Delevan, NY, United States
Publisher: Kendor Music
Date of Publication: 2009
URL: http://www.kendormusic.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

Loch Lomond is a well-known Scottish folk song that is believed to have been first published in 1841 as part of the collection Vocal Melodies of Scotland. The song has been set by Ralph Vaughan Williams and Frank Ticheli and performed by many artists such as Paul Robeson and Benny Goodman, and its tune even makes an appearance in the Disney movie Lady and the Tramp.

Mike Forbes’s arrangement of Loch Lomond, labeled as Grade 4, can easily be played by a quartet or four-part ensemble of high school trombonists. The range of the lowest part, labeled “Bass Trombone,” is F to a, but it only rarely leaves the octave from F to f. The 1st trombone part has a range of c to f1 and a tessitura of f to f1, making it well within the limits of a skilled high school level player. Rhythms are generally simple and the texture homophonic with an occasional countermelody occurring in one part whose rhythm contrasts with the others. The melody is passed to all parts at least once, but the 3rd trombone part begins the piece playing the melody alone and carries the tune most often. Even though this arrangement is published in an educational series, and appropriately so, it should not be dismissed out of hand by more experienced players; there is no feeling of simplification of the original subject matter to achieve greater playability. It is a suitable vehicle for lyrical playing and expression by a college trombone ensemble or professional quartet. Few dynamics are marked in the parts, especially through the first two verses, which consist of one full verse and refrain with repeat, so ensembles and directors have considerable latitude to make their own decisions and create a rewarding musical experience for players and audience alike.

-Thomas B. Cox
Toccoa Falls College