Review

Johann Ernst Galliard
Sonata No.5:

Arranged by Michael Stewart

three C trumpets, two horns, two trombones, euphonium, and tuba

,
Publisher: Wehr's Music House
Date of Publication: 2003
URL: http://www.wehrs-music-house.com

Score and parts

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

Transcriptions of Johann Ernst Galliard’s bassoon sonatas have been a staple of the trombone repertoire for decades. With this publication, Michael Stewart offers us a unique setting of Sonata No.5 for brass choir. This setting is for nine instruments: three C trumpets, two horns, two trombones, euphonium, and tuba. The familiar solo line resides in the first trombone part.

Modest technical and range demands make this transcription accessible for younger players. Stewart’s setting is essentially a solo with a four-part accompaniment, and he deftly alternates the accompaniment among the remaining eight parts. This provides a transparent texture that achieves a better balance with trombone soloist, and also allows for frequent rest in each part. The lighter timbres of the C trumpets also help balance, contrasting nicely with the middle register colors of the solo trombone.

Preparing the solo part is a musically rewarding experience for any young player; the music is certainly worthy of even the most advanced players. The lyrical demands of the slower first and third movements contrast with the technical demands of the faster second and fourth movements. The second movement has a notably difficult sixteenth-note sequence that descends two octaves into the F-valve register. The solo part spends most of its time in the “money” register. Unlike the other parts, there is no rest for the soloist, and a complete performance including all the repeats may pose an endurance challenge. Brass choir settings of trombone solos are extremely rare. Stewart’s transcription is a worthy addition to our repertoire.

-Paul Overly
Bob Jones University