Trombone Concerto Review

So here’s something new, that I think is well worth looking at. Mark Goddard’s Trombone Concerto is in five movements, it lasts twenty minutes, and would be a great centrepiece as we come to recital season at the music colleges. I said it was new, but that’s only for those of us that hadn’t come across it before; it was written in 1985, and revised in 2018, so this final version is yet to be performed. This is not a ‘modern’ work, there are no dissonant moments to broaden your harmonic horizons and make you nod in acceptance. In other words, it’s a thoroughly good listen, and the non-contemporary angle actually does make it a breath of fresh air. If it’s a good listen, it’s a good play too, sitting in healthy trombone register throughout, with rests where needed, though it is on your face for the occasional long passage. I would say that there are a couple of moments where breathing could be an issue, and there are a few glisses which will have to be faked. The Prologue is a strong opening movement, dramatic and gripping from the start. The Aria isn’t the contrasting floral melody you might be expecting. The Scherzo is more demonic than frivolous, and the Canzona only provides a small measure of softer melody, and still with drive. This is all good. The composer does, however, provide a light-hearted final movement, Buffoonery, which is a rather end-of-the-pier number to round things off in the 1960s. Excerpts from the Concerto can be heard here:, and the piece is very reasonably priced here for any students wishing to give a world premiere this summer.