Review

Gary D. Belshaw
On the Cross Town:
tenor and bass trombone

Coventry, , United Kingdom
Publisher: Warwick Music Publishers
Date of Publication: 2005
URL: http://www.warwickmusic.com

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 2 trombones

On the Cross Town is a performance duet, which incorporates theatrical elements. The composer suggests that performers may include props, lighting, costumes and other effects at their discretion. The work consists of five movements depicting the dialogues of different characters on a public mass transit vehicle. At a minimum, the stage should at least be set with chairs set in rows such as to depict seats on a bus. The composer utilizes counterpoint, meter, variety of articulation and dynamics to obtain contrasts of character for the roles adopted by the two performers. 

Scored for tenor and bass trombone, both parts are written in bass clef. The general tessitura of both parts is not particularly extreme with the tenor part topping out at a1, and the bass part would even be playable on a large tenor with F attachment, though the sound of a true bass trombone would be preferable to achieve a proper characterization. The last movement incorporates some quartertone intervals and other special effects, “Beat Box Sounds.” Though this piece is not overly difficult from a technical standpoint, effective performance will probably require memorization and a good degree of rehearsal to achieve rhythmic cohesion as well as the above stated dramatic elements. Parts are printed on a traditional two staff score and generally well laid out. However there are some awkward page turns that could be somewhat problematic, at least in rehearsal; performers will need to purchase two scores. This piece will attract performers looking for something different, dramatic, and not overly taxing for recital programming.
 
-Wayne Groves
Orquesta Sinfónica de Aguascalientes