Review

Erik Satie
Six Gnossiennes:

Arranged by Ralph Sauer


Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2011
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Piano score and solo part

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano
Secondary Genre: Solo Bass/Contrabass Trombone - with piano

The most attractive aspect of these beautiful pieces, originally for piano, is the wide range of musical expression they allow. Assigning the melody to trombone leaves a sparse piano accompaniment, and creates the challenge of performing these rhythmically flexible works with good ensemble. Sauer has given the English translations for Satie’s unusual interpretive instructions throughout. For example: “wonder about yourself” or “be clairvoyant” or “open the mind.” The trombone arrangement (range B-c2) keeps the original keys and adjusts the octave of the melody as necessary. The tuba/bass trombone version (range C-sharp-d1) is transposed down a seventh from the trombone version.

-Jeremy Kolwinska
Northwestern College (MN)