Review

Heitor Villa-Lobos
Pequena Suite:

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 Tenor Trombone - with piano

This version of Pequena Suite is an arrangement of the cello and piano piece by the prolific Brazilian composer, Heitor Villa-Lobos, his first published work (1913). The arrangement incorporates phrasing that recognizes the need for the trombonist to breathe, but obviously serves the original musical intentions of the composition. For some movements, that seems to be the most significant modification. In some movements, the Harmonias soltas, for example, an entire transformation was needed in order to make the piece idiomatic for trombone. Cello double stops are incorporated into the accompaniment in a thoughtful way. In the Gavotte-Scherzo, material from impossibly long phrases has been left out of the solo part, presumably for the sake of practicality, but the missing material is incidental – a moment when the cello accompanies the piano.  

The range of these six short movements extends from D to d2, but there is only one low D, and that one is marked ossia 8va. In most instances, G is the lowest note, but most of the piece explores the high range of the instrument and utilizes tenor clef. The six movements are varied in length, style and level of difficulty, making this piece, or select movements, malleable enough to serve different functions for recital use.  

Overall, this is a wonderful collection of beautiful, short movements, suitable for a professional recital. An advanced student can perform the entire piece and an intermediate student can perform select movements. This arrangement is crafted masterfully, and will be a fine acquisition for anyone envious of cello repertoire.

-Sean Reed
Arkansas Tech University