Review

Leo Robin, Richard Whiting, and Newell Chase
My Ideal:

Arranged by Bill Zaccagni


Delevan, NY, United States
Publisher: Kendor Music
Date of Publication: 2005
URL: http://www.kendormusic.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

Zaccagni’s setting of My Ideal is within the reach of a good high school trombone quartet. The first part, extending up to b-flat1 with few rests and a tessitura that sits between g and g1, requires endurance. The fourth part, reaching down to E-flat, with an ossia pedal BB-flat, can be done on tenor trombone although, given the part’s rhythmic independence, it will sound much better on bass. The middle voices move within reasonable ranges not going below c or above f 1. Stylistically, Zaccagni begins and ends in beguine style with swing sections in-between. All parts have extensive articulation marks although some of the articulation choices seem odd in the swing section. The first part gets the melody most of the time although bass is given some chances to shine. If your bass trombonist has problems with rhythmic independence, you’re in for a bumpy ride. The edition is quite easy to read but each three-page part has a loose third page.  One can imagine that special moment on stage when the third trombonist realizes the third page has gone missing. While there are some great jazz-style quartet arrangements out there, many of them are simply beyond the reach of intermediate players. This arrangement helps to fill that void by providing younger players some exposure to popular musical styles.

-Brad Edwards
University of South Carolina