Review

Claude Debussy
Jimbo’s Lullaby from “Children’s Corner”:

Arranged by Ralph Sauer


Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2010
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

This succinct transcription of Jimbo’s Lullaby has the melody weaving to and fro in the first trombone part and, rather humorously, the bass trombone part. Knowledge of tenor clef is necessary to play the first part and a straight mute is indicated but is optional. Inner voices retain the harmonic integrity of the work, are written in bass clef, and are neither difficult nor taxing. A good low range is imperative if the fourth part is to be performed on bass trombone, thus it is suggested in the parts that a contrabass trombone or tuba is used instead. What makes this piece challenging to play is the range, up to c2 in the first part and down to GG in the bass part with an optional CC at the end. Dynamics and articulations should be strictly observed, otherwise a sappy “wah, wah” sounding performance could result. Jimbo’s Lullaby would be best performed in front of a tolerable audience; one that can appreciate the dissonance of the Impressionist era and also forgive the trombone for its shortcomings.  

-Tom Pylinski
Malone University