Review

Robert Schumann
Adagio and Allegro, Op.70:

Arranged by Jaime Morales-Matos


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

Originally conceived for horn, this arrangement is transposed down a minor third, a much better key for tenor trombone. Questions will arise regarding performance practice. For example, should a trombonist use vibrato or not just because horn players tend to play without it?
 
In measures 31 and 32, a low G and C are taken up an octave in the arrangement, presumably in order to avoid the low C. This makes the entire piece playable on a tenor trombone without an F-attachment. A small-bore tenor might be the most appropriate instrument to use in order to make fast single-tonguing in the Allegro movement sound clean. Triple tonguing isn’t practical because of the slurred patterns. It would also be possible to play the piece on the alto trombone by taking a few measures in the Adagio movement up an octave, m.41 through the downbeat of m.48. Either a small bore tenor or an alto might have a more appropriate, slightly brighter sound, and the slide work might be easier on a lighter instrument. In any case, the idiomatic writing, evocative of the hunting horn, will present technical problems if the slide is not precise.
 
Like trombone arrangements of Schumann’s Romances and Fantasy pieces, this arrangement requires strong endurance, flexibility, range and maturity in performance. This is a piece for advanced students and professionals.

-Sean Reed
Arkansas Tech University