Review

Christian Lindberg
Groundhog Mamba:
trumpet, trombone, and brass quintet

, Switzerland
Publisher: Editions Bim
Date of Publication: 2004

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 6+ brass (choir)

Christian Lindberg has branched out from his career as a trombone virtuoso to compose and conduct. Groundhog Mamba is his second composition for brass quintet, and it was written for trumpeter Ole E. Antonsen and the Spanish Brass. The piece is less a dual concerto than a feature for solo trumpet and brass quintet with a few solo trombone passages.

Lindberg is quite successful at establishing hyper-extended rhythmic grooves and a lush melodic theme. However, these features do not add up to much more than isolated elements. The solo trumpet part is exceedingly difficult, as the technical demands and range requirements are constant. The solo trombone is used to mimic or duplicate fragments of the trumpet line, but never establishes a singular identity. The theme simply reappears as complex rhythmic sequences that are established and then extinguished. As a result, there is little poignancy or sense of having been transported emotionally in the music.

Groundhog Mamba requires great individual and ensemble skills to bring the intricate rhythmic patterns to fruition. There is some doubt as to whether the mundane result is equal to the herculean effort. This piece is given an excellent reading by the Spanish Brass featuring Antonsen and Lindberg on the disc Absolute: Spanish Brass Luur Metalls.

-Joel Elias
Sacramento State University