Review

Paul Clay
Gen:
Four trombones

Coventry, , United Kingdom
Publisher: Warwick Music, Ltd.
Date of Publication: 2006

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

Paul Clay grew up in Northampton, where he played trumpet in various jazz and wind ensembles. He studied composition with Anthony Gilbert and Paul Newland at the Royal Northern College of Music, graduating in 2003. Since then he has concentrated on a career in music education, specializing in contemporary music and jazz. His works have been performed by the London Sinfonietta, Contiuum Ensemble and the Steve Martland Band.

Gen was commissioned by the Bones Apart Quartet in 2002 and was conceived as an opening fanfare to a concert. The composer states the following:

The term ‘gen’ has various connotations in linguistics, being concerned with growth – generation, genesis, genetics. In this case, the piece grows from the opening chords, gradually becoming more linear as the melody emerges as a hocket and occupies more vertical space harmonically.

This is an interesting (in the positive sense) piece from both a rhythmic and harmonic standpoint. It covers a wide dynamic range, pp to fff, and is bursting with energy. It requires an excellent college level quartet to deal with its ensemble intricacies. Since its release the composer has subsequently completed Gen II and Gen III.

-Karl Hinterbichler
University of New Mexico