Review

Samuel Scheidt
Bergamasca Variations:

Arranged by Karl Hinterbichler


Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2007
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass

Samuel Scheidt (1587-1654) was a North German composer of the early Baroque era. He is best known to modern brass players through the popular quintet arrangement of Canzona Bergamasca. Renowned trombonist and pedagogue Karl Hinterbichler features this Bergamasca theme in a skillful new arrangement, in a somewhat different context. It uses standard quintet instrumentation with trumpet parts in B-flat and first trumpet doubling on piccolo. The trombone part is written in both tenor and bass clefs, primarily tenor. Tuba is specified for the lowest part but it is easily performed on bass trombone or even tenor with F attachment if necessary. As all parts are fairly athletic this arrangement is probably intended for a fairly advanced group. Parts are well laid out and easily readable. Like many pieces in the Cherry Classics catalogue this piece is available in print or as a downloadable portable document format (.pdf) file - a great resource for musicians in need of material at a moment’s notice. This arrangement will find a welcome home in many working quintets.

-Wayne Groves
Orquesta Sinfónica de Aguascalientes