Review

Frederick Delius
Three Preludes:

Arranged by Ralph Sauer


Vancouver, BC, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2013
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Primary Genre: Solo Bass/Contrabass Trombone - with piano

Frederick Delius was an English composer who lived and worked in the US, Germany, and France. Influenced by African-American music as well as European composers, such as Richard Wagner and Edward Grieg, Delius developed his own unique style. Delius’s Three Preludes were originally written for solo piano in 1923, late in the composer’s life after he had become ill. Ralph Sauer, retired principal trombonist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, has arranged this piece for tuba or bass trombone and piano. The first prelude, marked Scherzando, features the soloist playing lyrical phrases in the middle and low registers. In the second prelude, marked Quick, the melody flows seamlessly between the soloist and the piano part. The final prelude, marked Con moto, features the soloist playing a beautiful melody over a lush cascading piano line as well as a brief rubato section that descends into the pedal register. Covering a range from AA to d1, this piece is great for advanced players looking to work on linking registers while playing melodically. For a tubist the upper register may present a challenge, while a bass trombonist may find challenge in creating smooth connections between the trigger and pedal registers. Original keys, dynamics, tempi, and expression markings are retained in this arrangement. This piece is also available as an arrangement for euphonium or tenor trombone and piano, with the solo part written up one octave.

-Russell Ballenger
University of Mary