Review

Zoltán Kodály
Four Pieces from Op.11: for tuba or bass trombone and piano

Arranged by Ralph Sauer


Vancouver, BC, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2014
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Piano score and solo part

Primary Genre: Solo Bass/Contrabass Trombone - with piano

Originally part of Kodály’s Seven Pieces for solo piano, Ralph Sauer carefully rescored these four short pieces for tuba or bass trombone with piano accompaniment. Originally composed during the final years of the First World War, these are dark and deeply evocative character pieces. While not the most mechanically demanding music, each piece necessitates a mastery of expressive control and might not be well suited to an inexperienced player.
 
Except for some transposition and octave displacement, this arrangement closely follows the original piano version. While equally well scored for both tuba and bass trombone, the solo part, which spans from AA to d-sharp1, falls more into the upper tessitura of the tuba and middle register of the bass trombone. Each instrument faces a unique set of musical challenges in performing these pieces.
 
While its post-tonal harmonic language and overall musical complexity might be a challenge for some younger students to fully appreciate, Four Pieces from Op.11 will make an emotionally powerful addition to any recital program. This well formatted and carefully edited transcription is available from Cherry Classics Music.

-Greg Strohman
Dickinson College