Review

Alain Margoni
Élégie:

Paris, , France
Publisher: Gérard Billaudot Éditeur
Date of Publication: 1993

Primary Genre: Elementary Material - solo
Secondary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

This short piece provides the beginning trombonist a simple solo that uses the standard one octave B-flat major scale in the solo part as its basic structure. Marked calme et expressif (quarter=66), the solo is written in half notes with the occasional quarter note mixed in. What makes this piece interesting is the colorful accompaniment that provides a steady eighth-note pattern throughout. The writing incorporates a good deal of quartal harmonies, tritones and a variety of seventh and ninth chords. In the second half of the piece the accompaniment becomes quite chromatic even though the trombone part remains mostly diatonic. Never is the soloist given a major triad to find his or her bearings. Nothing in the accompaniment would seem harmonically unusual for a seasoned performer but for a beginning student it certainly will stretch his or her young ears. For this reason, Margoni’s composition provides an interesting introduction to these alternative sounds. For students who are ready for this in their first year of playing it may be just the thing to spur them on. By the same token, the development of ear training and intonation requires experience with the basics such as a simple major chord. As always, the teacher should carefully consider the literature that is appropriate for the student. Élégie is only twenty measures long and takes just over a minute to perform, so one shouldn’t get too worked up about whether it is appropriate or not for a beginning student. In the end, younger students should be taught to have fun playing the horn, which is hopefully done every time we pick it up and try something new. 

-Bill Mathis
Bowling Green State University