Review

Maurice Ravel
Fanfare (from the ballet L’Éventail de Jeanne) :

Arranged by Ralph Sauer

4 trumpets, 4 horns, 4 trombones and 2 tubas, with an optional single composite tuba part

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2013

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 6+ brass (choir)

L’Éventail de Jeanne is a one-act children’s ballet with each section of music composed by a different French composer. Maurice Ravel wrote the opening Fanfare section, which has been arranged for fourteen-part large brass ensemble by Ralph Sauer. The arrangement is scored for 4 trumpets, 4 horns, 4 trombones and 2 tubas, with an optional single composite tuba part included.
 
The Fanfare is light-hearted and playful sounding with lots of interplay and call and response between the different instrument groups. The original piece was scored for brass, woodwinds and strings, so in this version the brass are imitating all of those different sounds and colors. It doesn’t have the same pomp and circumstance that many would expect to hear from a traditional brass fanfare but it still works well for this arrangement of instruments. I could see it being used to open a concert or ceremony where a less serious fanfare would be appropriate.
 
Score and parts are clear and easy to read. The range and difficulty level make it accessible for advanced high school performers but the arrangement is also appropriate for university or professional ensembles. Written-pitch ranges: combined C trumpet parts, g-b2; combined horns, g-g-sharp2; combined trombones, all in bass clef, G-g1; combined tubas, BB-d.

-Drew Leslie
Appalachian State University