Review

Carl Maria von Weber
Romance:

Arranged by Ignacio del Rey

Solo trombone and four trombones (alto, 2 tenors, bass)

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2016
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with brass
Secondary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 5 trombones

Weber’s classic trombone recital piece is presented here in an arrangement for solo trombone with trombone quartet. The solo part is true to the original; if the player knows the piece with piano, he/she will be able to ‘plug it into’ this arrangement. The top quartet part is labeled alto trombone and is in alto clef, but has only one c1. While an alto instrument is not absolutely necessary, it is probably desirable due to the delicate nature of some passages and for timbral variety. Off-beat eighth notes, which listeners are used to hearing in the piano accompaniment, are notated with slurs over staccato markings, and need to be played with length to be effective. The bass trombone enjoys some of the melodic interaction with the soloist [mm. 32-35; 73-76] that is delegated to the top hand in the piano version. Tremolo parts in the original piano part are replaced with eighth notes placed on the off-beats in Trombones 1-3. This creates a different texture than in the original, and some rather open voicing, but if played with length and delicacy these passages are effective. This is an able arrangement that provides an interesting way to perform a standard piece of literature. It is best played by a quartet only, not a choir with doubled parts, for a subtle and balanced accompaniment.