Review

Edward Elgar
Nimrod: from Enigma Variations

Arranged by Randall Malmstrom

2 altos, 3 tenors, 2 basses, 1 contrabass trombones

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2018
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.comu

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 8 trombones

This transcription in the key of E-flat is scored for 2 alto and 3 tenor trombones, 2 bass trombones and a contra-bass trombone. It begins with alto trombones playing the melody in unison, marked pianissimo and sempre legatissimo, the lower parts given a dynamic of pppp and demanding an exquisite level of control up to m16, where the dynamic increases to mf. The main melody continues in the alto parts to m21 and is then moved around the ensemble, coming back to 1st alto in m29 and topping out in both parts in m31 on e-flat². The piece ends pianissimo on an E-flat tutti chord spread over three and a half octaves.

Trombones 3 and 5 are given in tenor clef, other lower parts in bass clef. For the contra-bass trombone an octave transposition is indicated. Its written compass is C-e-flat¹, actual range CC-e-flat, which goes below the range of the BB-flat tuba. Range for alto trombones is B-flat to e-flat². This fine arrangement fully displays the tonal range of the trombone family in a profoundly beautiful piece that was written to celebrate a great musical friendship.