Review

Alexander Zemlinsky
Drei Stücke:

Arranged by Eric High


Vancouver, BC, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2015
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

Originally for cello and piano, this arrangement keeps the original keys for each of the three Stücke (pieces). The works feature a Romantic era aesthetic with lush chords, expansive melodies, and opportunities for expressive liberties in dynamics and tempo. Although relatively brief, each piece contains enough contrast and interest to be programmed individually. The expressive Lied, in particular, can work well by itself on a recital program. The overall range is D-b1; tessitura is not overly taxing throughout. With only a few measures of exception, the first two movements, Humoreske and Lied, work quite well on trombone. The Tarantell presents the most technical challenge of the three. A successful performance of this movement will require lighter articulations, discretion in tempo, and moderation in dynamic levels. The arranger places a few notes in parenthesis, providing some relief in one especially difficult motive. Despite the challenges, these can serve as a stirring way to end a recital.

-Jeremy Kolwinska
University of Northwestern – St. Paul