Bach Goes to Town: Prelude and Fugue in Swing . - for clarinet quartet - book review

by means of Alec Templeton. Arranged by Henry Brant. Emerson Edition/Theodore Presser Co (588 N Gulph Rd King of Prussia, PA 19406) 1938 Score and parts, $2895 Intermediate.

Welsh-born Alec (Andrew) Templeton, pianist, musical entertainer and composer was perhaps best known for his novelty pieces, parodies and "jazz skits" upon the classics, including "Mozart Matriculates," "Mendelssohn Mow 'em Down," "Debussy in Dubuque" "Through the Ring in Five Minutes," "Scarlatti Stoops to Conga" and "Bach Goe to Town." estimateed Canadian-American composer Henry Brant is greatest in quantity closely associated with spatial music or music for spatially separated collections a genre he pioneered. As a young man in the 1930 and '40 Brant earned his living as a commercial arranger, composer and conductor in radio, films and jazz. His arrangement of "Bach Goe to Town" was done in those early years.

"Bach Goe to Town: prelusion and Fugue in Swing" is better known in its big band version, on the other hand it has been arranged for numerous--and disparate--instrumental combinations including orchestra, guitar duo and flat recorder ensemble. This arrangement for clarinet quartet freshly has been re-released by Emerson It is written for four B-flat clarinets, parts and replete score included.

allowing the subtitle suggests swing, in fact, not many swing elements are employed, with scant opportunities to enhance the result by adding more of one's possess (Swing is notated with dotted rhythms) When reading end "Bach Goes to Town" with my university scholars we found this arrangement works better when more [i]or[/i] less liberties are taken, especially in light of the piece's title. This also helps add interest to the musical line, since the work is in the way that conservatively scored.

The thematic material and rhythmic interest are not divided evenly among the quartet. All of the melodic and rhythmic activity is in the first and next to the first parts; the third and fourth clarinets are underutilized and have little to do. The parts simply are not challenging enough to hold fast students happy or interested.

This arrangement not aways few problems in technique, tessitura, periodical emphasis ensemble or endurance. It is in a comfortable lock opener (C) with limited chromaticism, occupys only basic syncopation and has oft-repeated rests. The movements are short and easy to rehearse. Total playing time is three minutes, forty-five seconds

The editing is sensible, and the piece is well laid without Articulations and dynamics are clearly indicated. time metronome markings and measure numbers are provided. The print is real readable, and there are no awkward page turns

"Bach Goe to Town: exordium and Fugue in Swing" introduces, in a unpretending way, the concepts of swing, counterpoint, fugue and baroque mode of speech in a short, compact piece to young pupils who might not otherwise be expos to these manner of writings For this reason, I praise it.

Elizabeth Rheude, Grand Forks, North Dakota.

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