TromboneChat

I sometimes arrange popular songs for trombone ensemble, to be used in school concerts of my former school band, and also in other casual concerts. However, almost every time, I could not keep it a quartet. My normal arranging pattern is: 1 melody line, 1 harmony line (same rhythm as melody line but playing 3rd or 4th depending on the actual song), two chord/rhythm lines, and one bass line.

I have tried, unsuccessfully, to reduce the line to quartet, but every time I feel the arrangement misses something, and so I went back to quintet. Some songs necessitate (for me) even sextet if it has additional line.

How can I keep the arrangement as quartet? Any technique? Or do I have to sacrifice something? Thanks in advance for your advice.

I think that trombone quartet is a challenging medium to write effectively for. It's tough to find room for everything, just like you say. Not just for voicings. If you want mute changes to try to increase tambral variety, only 4 instruments means that everyone is usually pretty busy, and it's tough to simply find space. For the same reason: a common arranging technique is to subtract instruments so that you can bring out a different instrument and texture. Not a whole lot of room to do that with in a trombone quartet. The great arrangements find ways to do this, and it ain't easy.