Review

Various
Three Chorales:

Arranged by Kevin Henry


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Publisher: Wehr's Music House
Date of Publication: 2004
URL: http://www.wehrs-music-house.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

This set of transcriptions merits a place in all our quartet libraries. Simple enough to allow success by third or fourth year players, the settings are fulfilling enough to be enjoyed by a professional quartet. It is easy to envision these settings as part of a church prelude, on a recital presented by a young quartet, or even effectively performed by a massed trombone choir.

The first chorale, Now Let Every Tongue Adore Thee, is a setting of the chorale tune from Cantata No.140 by J.S. Bach commonly known as “Sleepers Awake.” Henry derives its title using the text from the last movement of the cantata. The sustained playing that each part requires provides excellent opportunities to emphasize tuning and balance issues with a young quartet. The melody resides in the first part and the other three parts contribute Bach’s peerless harmonies. Part four is especially harmonically active.  Hosanna to the Son of David by T. L. Vittoria likewise contains rich harmonic motion.  Its polyphonic texture spreads the melodic wealth, and the third part is especially interesting. The final transcription, Almighty and Everlasting God by Orlando Gibbons, exemplifies the imitative polyphony of the Renaissance motet. The imitation is quite close, at times only two beats apart. This movement provides a worthy musical challenge for a young quartet.

Tessitura in each of the chorales is moderate. Part one rises only to g1, and an f-attachment, although helpful, is not necessary for the fourth part. Henry does offer options for lower octaves in the fourth part that can greatly enrich the timbre of the ensemble. His dynamic suggestions are clearly marked and appropriate. The parts are printed in a large font and are easy to read.

-Paul Overly
Bob Jones University