Review

Various
Wedding Masterworks:

Arranged by Frank J. Halferty


Delevan, NY, United States
Publisher: Kendor Music
Date of Publication: 2008
URL: http://www.kendormusic.com

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano
Secondary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with media

Shoreline, WA band director Frank Halferty provides an excellent collection of the most common classical works for weddings arranged for trombone and keyboard. The book, dedicated to his friend and colleague Bill Park, includes Air, Hornpipe, and La Rejouissance by G.F. Handel, Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring and Air On The G String by J.S. Bach, Trumpet Tune by Henry Purcell, the Bridal Chorus by Richard Wagner, Johann Pachelbel’s Canon In D, The Wedding March by Felix Mendelssohn, Ave Maria by Franz Schubert, Rondeau by Jean-Joseph Mouret, and Trumpet Voluntary by Henry Purcell and Jeremiah Clarke. The compilation also includes a compact disc with each accompaniment played on both piano and organ. The sound quality on the disc is quite good and could be used in performance if desired.

As one might expect from someone with over fifteen years of public school teaching experience, Mr. Halferty has arranged all of the selections in friendly keys, C, F, B-flat, E-flat, and A-flat only, and each piece is in bass clef. In addition, every note in the collection falls in the range of just over two octaves: A-flat- a1. All of these selections can be played by professionals and talented amateurs alike. This book also compares favorably with other collections of solos or transcriptions including Voxman’s Concert & Contest Collection or Solos for the Trombone Player by Henry Charles Smith. The popular melodies are excellent for working on intonation, phrasing, and expression. Thanks to Frank Halferty for filling a void in the trombone repertoire. With this book, a little luck, and some practice, trombone players will soon be in the wedding music business. 

- Eric High
St. Norbert College