Review

Jean Sibelius
Romance in C Op.42: for trombone and piano

Arranged by Ralph Sauer


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

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

Romance in C Op.42 was composed for string orchestra in 1903, the same year as his celebrated violin concerto. As its title suggests, it is a highly personal, evocative work. The key center of C major is somewhat illusory. Sibelius travels on a harmonic journey that is circuitous and mysterious. The work opens with recitative-like phrases in E minor and proceeds in fits and starts to the C tonal center. The central section is more intense. It begins as a canon in C minor, proceeds through E major before returning to C. The opening section returns with greater intensity – now an octave higher. The work closes peacefully, punctuated by three C major chords.
 
Sauer’s arrangement largely follows the original violin parts with few exceptions. The trombone takes the cello part in the canonic sections and again mirrors the low strings in the work’s quiet epilogue. Tessitura is moderate, rising to a-flat2. The closing is perhaps the most difficult technically, softly descending to CC. Although the technical difficulties of the arrangement are moderate, the musical demands are significant. A successful performance will require musical maturity and intuition. The piece contains many pauses and shorter motives that must be connected in a meaningful manner. Its mood changes must be nuanced. This arrangement will make an excellent teaching piece in a collegiate studio, and an excellent addition to any recital. It’s more modest physical demands fit well between more demanding works, and the quality of its musical expression will meet or surpass any other work on the recital.

-Paul Overly
Bob Jones University