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The Armenian-British composer and pianist Kristina Arakelyan has been described as a ‘rising star’ (BBC Music Magazine). In recent years she’s been nominated for an Ivors Composer Award and had works performed at the Proms. She teaches composition at the Junior Royal Academy.
Six Brass Cats is a set of well-crafted musical miniatures for trumpet, cornet or flugelhorn (with piano accompaniment), and is aimed at the young developing brass player. Most of the material is of Grade 2–3 standard in terms of range and duration, although the final piece in the book, ‘Luna’s Waltz’, is closer to Grade 5.
Each piece has its own dedicated cartoon cat pictured next to the title, which helps to characterise the music and provides the young player with a bit of fun as they explore the book. So, for example, ‘Colonel Whiskers’ is a jaunty march while ‘Oscar’s Kool’ purrs along with a swing jazz groove.
The first cat in the book is ‘Old Mollie’. The intervals in the range are mostly approached by step, carefully pitched for Grade 2 players. The long, sustained tones in the phrases will stretch younger lungs, so perhaps some breathing space between the phrases could have helped maintain the long crescendos. I have found that brass players and teachers are very committed to playing the note lengths as written, and some may find the phrases challenging for their ability at this stage.
‘Coco the Kitten’ is a more playful piece which allows the player to pursue their staccato tonguing and slurring techniques. The piano accompaniment that supports the melodic line helps to punctuate the texture, sensitively complementing the trumpet line. It is well written and, as with all the pieces, could be managed by an elementary accompanist.
‘Colonel Whiskers’ then enters the fray with a marcato dotted-quaver to semiquaver rhythm – a good test for tonguing technique – and includes straight quaver articulation as an immediate contrast in the theme. This no-fuss-and-nonsense colonel is reflected in the music as a lively march. There’s a strong ‘button ending’ to inspire a hearty reaction from the audience.
By way of a contrast, ‘Sleepy Sylvester’, set in D major for the trumpet, has a dreamy, legato feel and will test the young player’s ability to start phrases softly – a good challenge. The notorious sharp tuning of the low C sharp will be noticed by experienced teachers; the player’s instrument will need to be well maintained so that the all-important third-valve slide can facilitate good tuning.
‘Oscar’s Kool’ contains jazzy riffs played in swing style. The swing quavers are correctly notated as straight quavers, with an instruction at the beginning to interpret them with a ‘triplety’ swing feel at the outset. Brass teachers are well aware of this standard approach, and pupils nowadays switch easily by ear between straight and swing styles. They will enjoy swinging along to Oscar’s ‘Pink Panther’-style walk. All of the phrases suggest a slurred approach, with some phrases finishing on an upward projection that may offer a challenge to developing players. However, having the phrases slurred rather than tongued eases the coordination between tongue and fingers. Again, this piece offers an enjoyable challenge for the young player.
The last piece, ‘Luna’s Waltz’, takes a big step up from the previous five pieces in being much longer and with a range rising to top G in the middle eight. While it would suit the trumpet and cornet in equal measure, I think it could be particularly evocative when played on the flugelhorn.
The book would hopefully remain in the music case long enough for exploration of ‘Luna’s Waltz’ once the suitable standard has been reached. By then, however, the cat cartoons may not be quite so appealing with the approaching teenage years. So, while all of the pieces are well written, I am left with a slight question mark as to whether one Grade 5 piece in a set of otherwise Grade 2–3 pieces may mean that it doesn’t get played. That aside, Six Brass Cats, at £6.95, represents good value for money.
KRISTINA ARAKELYAN: SIX BRASS CATS
B flat trumpet, cornet or flugelhorn and piano
Stainer & Bell Ltd ISMN: 9790220228728
£6.95
