Review

Samuel Scheidt
Galliard Battaglia:

Arranged by Neal Bennett

Five trombones

Vancouver, BC, , Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2016
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 5 trombones

Scheidt (1587-1654) wrote this piece for a consort of viols, but in the last half century it has become standard brass repertoire. There are two distinct sections, the first and longer section uses a call and response structure where each phrase is issued as a challenge, which is echoed by ‘the other side.’ The two upper parts fill these roles in this arrangement in the key of E-flat; the lower parts play a supporting role. In the last 15 measures, the opposing armies appear to have agreed on a truce and the piece ends without any casualties on a resounding chord of B-flat major. The first part range comprises f-c1, second f-b-flat1. Third and fourth parts are quite easy and bass trombone part is of only moderate difficulty; this piece is well-suited to a student ensemble of mixed abilities. Neal Bennett is Professor of Trombone in the Conservatoire de musique et d’art dramatique du Québec and co-founder of I Tromboni.