John Kenny
Bamburgh Beach for Solo Bass Trombone:
Coventry, , United Kingdom
Publisher: Warwick Music Publishers
Date of Publication: 2003
URL: http://www.warwickmusic.com
Primary Genre: Solo Bass/Contrabass Trombone - unaccompanied
Bamburgh Beach for Solo Bass Trombone:
Coventry, , United Kingdom
Publisher: Warwick Music Publishers
Date of Publication: 2003
URL: http://www.warwickmusic.com
Primary Genre: Solo Bass/Contrabass Trombone - unaccompanied
Bamburgh Beach was composed as a joint commission from the International Trombone Association and the British Trombone Society and was composed for bass trombonist, David Taylor. This is a highly unusual piece written in four movements. At first glance, the notation resembles that which was developed by Luciano Berio for Sequenza V but extended effects go beyond the requirements of that classic. Closer examination show effects similar to some found in the Krenek Five Pieces for Trombone and Piano and Jacob Druckman’s Animus I. Bamburgh Beach goes somewhat farther than any of these works by requiring the performer to recite passages of poetry by Dylan Thomas in the first movement, by John Kenny in the second and by Eric Mottram in the third. The composer requires much improvisation from the performer: jazz funk feel, a sequence, the rhythm of which is based upon the performer’s reaction to the Dylan Thomas excerpt, performance of an established bass line while improvising a melody over the top; etc. The low register extends to pedal B and goes as high as the player can manage. Other more traditional extended techniques include, inhaling and exhaling audibly through the instrument, slap tongue, lip multiphonics (split tones), “popping” a valve slide, playing through a valve with the tuning slide removed, producing different vowel sounds while playing, multiphonics with voice and glissando. This piece is extremely difficult to prepare in many ways. It is not a good “first time” piece for a young player attempting to learn graphic notation and extended techniques. Rather, this is for the highly advanced performer who possesses an intensely creative nature and is willing to explore and expand his sound pallet and stage presence. -David Johansen Southeastern Louisiana University