Review


Felix Mendelssohn
Scherzo Tarantella : from Song Without Words, Op. 102, no. 3

Arranged by Stephen Denroche

Brass quintet

Vancouver, BC, , Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2018
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass

An unlikely candidate for admission into the brass repertoire?, this is a quicksilver dance in 6/8 meter, marked Presto: light, fast and nimble, calling for lots of triple tonguing in all parts. The original key is C major; this deft and imaginative transcription is in B-flat. The melody is shared mostly between trumpets and horn; the trombone has a largely supporting role, but gets its turn with the melody in measures 49-53, followed by the tuba in ms.54-58. The last four measures crescendo from pianissimo to a fortissimo tutti chord of b-flat major, spread over four octaves. I think this can be an effective encore piece. The trombone part is given in bass clef, range is A-f1. Trumpet parts are in C. Trumpet 1 tops out at b-flat2. The arranger is a freelance horn player and teaches band in Burnaby, British Columbia.

Reviewer: Keith Davies Jones
Review Published June 15, 2023