Review

Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Four Pieces, Opus 40:

Arranged by Ralph Sauer

Tuba or bass trombone and piano

Vancouver, British Columbia, United States
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2017
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and solo part

Primary Genre: Solo Bass/Contrabass Trombone - with piano

Tchaikovsky composed Opus 40 in late winter and spring of 1878. The “moderately difficult” collection consists of twelve short piano works between 68 and 236 measures each. According to the Tchaikovsky Research project, the vignettes were composed as a daily exercise for the composer, each morning. The composer referred to many of the character pieces in correspondence that is archived in Moscow.[1]

Like many of Mr. Sauer’s recent arrangements Tchaikovsky’s Four Pieces are musically rewarding, set in appropriate keys, and use an accessible tessitura B-flat to d1. The odd numbered movements are ideal for the developing musician. I. Chanson triste, is composed mostly of quarter and eighth notes in the key of A minor. III. Rêverie interrompue, includes an introduction that requires basic communication with the pianist and the body of the composition is set in g minor/B-flat major.

The even numbered movements require a more mature trombonist to handle the virtuosic technique and complex rhythmic writing included in the movements. II. Valse, is composed in A minor, however the work moves quickly through several keys. This movement is originally the second waltz in the Tchaikovsky collection (no.9). IV. Danse russe, composed in C minor includes sextuplet-sixteenth note rhythms similar to Arban’s characteristic study number five. Four Pieces Op. 40 will be a welcome addition to any collection. I will use these pieces with my younger students.

[1] http://en.tchaikovsky-research.net/pages/Twelve_Pieces,_Op._40