Review

Eric North
Three Brisk Creatures:
B-flat trumpet, horn in F, and tenor trombone

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2008
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 2 brass

This is an energetic composition for B-flat trumpet, horn in F and tenor trombone that will fit well as a fanfare-like opening to a new music or chamber recital. Donated for review by Cherry Classics Music, the publisher’s web site includes a live audio recording for online streaming and informative sample pages of the score and parts.

Although written in 6/8 meter, the composer frequently pits this compound duple meter against an overlapping simple triple meter (3/4). Due to the prevalence and significance of these overlapping pulse streams, I would like to have seen the inclusion of select single-measure meter changes to assist the performers when they are all playing a shared measure of simple triple meter (in mm. 20, 60, 62, 87, 119, 150, and 209). While this metrical notation issue may not necessitate a publication edit, one of the reasons I have identified the measures in question, I cannot overstate the importance of creating score and parts that most accurately reflect the composer’s subtle metrical nuances while enhancing legibility to optimize rehearsal time. I am otherwise delighted by this concise and spry tour de force. For those wanting to learn more about this Canadian composer’s other works for trombone, you may wish to explore his 2006 semitone and glissandi duet etude Equilibrium, available through Cherry Classics Music with a sample score excerpt and full, synthesized audio file.

-Peter Fielding
36 Canadian Brigade Group (Nova Scotia) Band, Canada