Review

Johann Sebastian Bach
Capriccio BVW [sic] 992 On the Departure of a Beloved Brother: for six trombones

Arranged by John Marcellus


Vancouver, BC, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2009
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 6 trombones

Dr. John Marcellus has been Professor and Director of the Eastman Trombone Choir since 1978, taking over after the departure of Eastman’s legendary Professor of Trombone Emory Remington (1922-1972). Since his appointment at the Eastman School of Music, Dr. Marcellus has received many honors, written countless articles and has contributed an array of works for the trombone community. Dedicated to Steve Witser (1961-2009), Dr. Marcellus has arranged this work for four tenor and two bass trombones. Bach’s six movement work was originally composed for clavier and was performed by himself at age nineteen as his brother left to become an orchestral oboist for the Swedish king. The parts are organized in two groups of 2 tenors and 1 bass (Group A and B), however this is not in the ordinary call-response genre. All six parts are carefully weaved throughout the texture, presenting the listeners with a variety of shapes and colors, while providing all musicians an equal share of playing both melodic and accompaniment figures. The four tenor trombone parts are written in tenor and bass clef; the two bass parts are exclusively in bass clef. This beautiful arrangement will be a wonderful addition to anyone’s trombone ensemble library. On the title page, the ‘W’ and ‘V’ in the Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis designation is transposed, a minor error.

-Nathaniel Lee
University of Virginia