Review

Michael Stewart
Bassic Instincts :
Four bass trombones.

Winter Park, Florida, United States
Publisher: Wehr’s Music House
Date of Publication: 1999

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

This quartet was commissioned by Tom Izzo and the BASSics bass trombone quartet. It is tonal, and alternates between slow chorale-style sections and faster contrapuntal sections. Bassic Instincts covers the key signatures of E-flat, C, and E. Most of the piece is in 4/4 meter, although there are sections of 3/4 and 7/8. No mutes or special effects are required. Every player gets a chance to play the melody at some point. The upper register demands are not extensive and every part has ample rest. This quartet was clearly intended to be performed by four bass trombones, however a tenor trombonist with solid low chops could handle the first or third parts by taking just a couple of notes up an octave. The second and fourth parts, however, contain multiple low BB’s and will most likely require a bass trombone. Overall ranges: bass trombone 1, FF–a1; bass trombone 2, EE-flat–f-sharp1; bass trombone 3, AA–g1; bass trombone 4, EE–f-sharp1. Total duration of the piece is approximately 5:30.

-Frank Gazda
Delaware State University