Review

Mériadec Rufet
Les Coulisses de l’imaginaire:
four trombones and percussion

Paris, , France
Publisher: Editions Combre (Theodore Presser)
Date of Publication: 2000

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Elementary Material - ensemble
Secondary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

‘Trombones of the Imagination’ is an approximate translation, more fully; l’imaginaire describes the world of a creative child’s mind. This little suite, written for young players, comprises four movements, each with a descriptive legend - Valse à coulisse, Nostalgie, Petite coulisse agile, and Les Klolks’ Tomtes (sic). The first evokes the sound of an old barrel organ, the second the recollection of something forgotten, the third a ride on horseback across the American Prairie, and the last an “inaccessible peak where imps manufacture extraordinary clocks, musical jewels, robots, fairies’ toys…” The correct spelling is Kloks’ Tomtes; they are watchmakers, precisely 39 centimeters tall, with long white beards and red pointy hats who live on remote peaks in Germany and Austria. Their tastes are generally simple, but they enjoy sparkling wine and are said to be musical.

The level of performance is elementary to intermediate, second and third parts, range c-e1, are easier than first and fourth, range E-g1. Key is C major throughout. Each section is well designed to develop a different technical aspect of playing. In the final section, the composer adds a somewhat exotic quintet of percussion instruments, Guiro, Grelots (small bells), Wood Block, Triangle and Basque Drum. To my knowledge there are few trombone ensemble pieces written for younger musicians, and this simple yet imaginative composition is a welcome addition. Rufet was born in Fougères in Brittany and is active in the field of Breton traditional music and as a composer and educator; he has written a number of other works for trombone ensemble.

-Keith Davies Jones
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada