Review

Cécile Chaminade
Six Romances Without Words Op.76: for tuba (or bass trombone)

Arranged by Ralph Sauer


Vancouver, BC, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2012
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Primary Genre: Solo Bass/Contrabass Trombone - with piano

Composed for solo piano in 1893, each movement of the Six Romances Without Words, Op.76 (Romances sans Paroles) was dedicated to an acquaintance of Madame Chaminade. Ralph Sauer has skillfully arranged the work for tuba or bass trombone solo with piano accompaniment.
 
Each Romance is almost exclusively lyrical with occasional short, articulated passages. Only one of the movements uses a slower tempo while the remaining five are moderate to moderately fast. Melodic range is modest, AA to e1 for both tuba and bass trombone and Mr. Sauer took great care to keep tessitura reasonable by transposing each movement anywhere between a half-step to a perfect fifth away from the original. Other than these transpositions, the only substantial change has to do with the order of the movements. For his arrangement, Mr. Sauer switched the order of the final two movements, “Chanson Bretonne” replaces “Méditation” as the finale, so that the work concludes with the faster and more spirited piece.
 
Overall, the work is quite playable and will act as an excellent introduction to Chaminade’s lyrical style and romanticism. Since most of her compositions are for solo piano or parlor songs, low brass players rarely get the opportunity to play them. That alone is a good reason to investigate the Six Romances. The piece will fit nicely on a program of French music or one featuring the music of female composers.   

-Eric High
St. Norbert College