Review

Richard Wagner
Three Opera Songs:

Arranged by Ralph Sauer

Trombone and piano

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2020
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and solo part

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

Mr. Sauer has done his usual meticulous job of arranging the vocal parts of these songs for the trombonist, and there is little to criticize in his editorial work. The three songs come from three different Wagner operas, Die Walküre, Tannhäuser and Die Meistersinger. The first song, 'Winterstürme wichen dem Wonnemund' or 'Siegmund’s Love Song' is not a separate song as in traditional opera settings; it is woven into the texture of the orchestral accompaniment in accordance with Wagner’s ideal of the Music Drama, where everything is, in a sense, part of everything else. Mr. Sauer has placed the song in that context quite cleverly, with the transcribed orchestral accompaniment flowing naturally into the vocal music. The song is in 9/8 meter and flows along beautifully. This first song is not the most dramatic of the set.
The second song is 'Wolfram’s Song to the Evening Star, “O du mein holder Abendstern,”' which again is unusual in being separate as a sort of aria, counter to Wagner’s theories of the Gesamtkunstwerk or complete artistic synthesis. Unlike the 'Siegmund' example, this song is scored for a baritone voice. The challenge for the trombonist, as always in rendering vocal music, is conveying the sentiment contained in the text of the music. Texts are easily obtained on the Internet and should be studied, both in German and in translation into the performer’s language.

Finally, and most dramatically, we have the 'Prize Song' from Die Meistersinger. Once again, the part of Walther is that of a tenor. The special challenges of this song lie in its high tessitura and the continuing repetition of the solo voice part, especially as it moves to the end of the song. In the opera it is the “show-off” piece intended to win the Meistersinger prize. The song is entitled “Morgenlich Leuchtend Im Rosigen Schein,” which means “Daybreak was opening.” It is intended as a love song: Walther hopes to marry the heroine of the story through winning the prize for singing.

For the trombonist, apart from the above mentioned challenges, the melodic flow, the legato style and above all the expression implicit in the music are goals to be met through listening. Hear a number of fine opera soloists in all of these songs and do your utmost to be as expressive as possible. Congratulations to Ralph Sauer for a wonderful set of Romantic songs for the trombonist!