Review

Johann Pachelbel
Chorale Partita in G-Dur mit sieben Variationen: arranged for five trombones

Arranged by Keith Terrett


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

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 5 trombones

This is a fairly extensive work for trombones, scored for alto, three tenors and bass. It is understandable that composers and arrangers want to use the alto when possible, since it allows for an expansion of the range of the ensemble. The difficulty involves ensembles that do not have access to an alto instrument – I don’t see an easy answer to this problem, since the range demands of the ensemble are extensive – from GG in the bass trombone to d2 in the alto part.

The work is based on the German chorale tune Alle Menschen müssen sterben [All men must die]; the theme statement is slow and simple. The first variation uses a faster moving pattern of sixteenth notes to embellish the melody. This variation also uses a reduced “orchestration,” leaving out the alto and the third tenor trombone. The flow of the notes in this variation is nearly consistent, with a near continuous composite rhythm shared among the three parts. Rhythmic flow in the second variation involves the use of a more or less continuous sixteenth pattern which is handed from one upper part to the next, while the third tenor trombone and bass trombone keep the slow chorale rhythm moving against the faster moving upper three parts. The third variation takes a similar idea to the second, but with the slow chorale tune in the first and second parts and the sixteenth notes running in the bottom two parts: the second trombone plays an offbeat rhythm in the middle of the texture. Variation four focuses on the bottom two parts, splitting up the texture between parts and fragmenting the chorale tune. Variations five and six become increasingly chromatic and rhythmically displaced. The last variation displays an increase in tempo and is even more rhythmically active. This is an interesting and challenging work for a group of at least five advanced players, one of whom can handle alto trombone or who at least has an excellent high range.

-Philip Brink
Mahidol University College of Music