Review

Engelbert Humperdinck
Evening Prayer from “Hansel and Gretel”:

Arranged by Richard Fote


Delevan, NY, United States
Publisher: Kendor Music
Date of Publication: 2010
URL: http://www.kendormusic.com

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

Evening Prayer by Engelbert Humperdinck comes from his opera Hansel and Gretel. Completed in 1893, the opera was praised by Richard Strauss as a masterpiece and quickly spread in popularity throughout Europe and America. The popularity of the opera is credited to the rich timbres painted by the orchestra while Humperdinck keeps the melodic and rhythmic underpinnings simple.  

The hymn like Evening Prayer is one of the most popular songs from the opera due to its lasting melodic appeal. The arranger, Richard Fote, successfully transfers this vocal piece to trombone and piano. It is a simple song form that calls for a lyrical, legato style of playing. Evening Prayer is a calming solemn piece that remains in a soft dynamic, never reaching any louder than mezzo forte, and stays in the comfortable range of c to a-flat1, utilizing bass clef throughout. Breath marks help to delineate phrases. The marking for crescendo changes throughout the piece, sometimes the word is used, other times the symbol. This could be confusing for younger performers who are perfectly suited to this piece. The simple piano accompaniment rarely calls for separate rhythms between the hands. This arrangement is good for the young trombonist that has begun to venture into the high register. Its simple melodic structure and short length suits the young trombonist and challenges them to play in a soft, lyrical legato style, while occasionally rising to a-flat1. 

-Andrew Converse
Northwest Vista College