Review

Georg Frederic Handel
Trio Sonata No.1, Op.5:

Arranged by Ralph Sauer

2 tenor, 1 bass trombone

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

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 3 trombones

This sonata, (HWG 396) originally in A major and scored for two violins and continuo, was composed in 1739 - the same year as Israel in Egypt and Ode for St Cecilia’s Day.  As in all of Handel’s music, the melodic invention is unfailing and the harmony always interesting.

This arrangement is in G major and is scored for two tenor trombones and bass trombone. First and second parts are given in tenor clef, ranges c-c² and A-a¹ respectively; bass trombone covers C-d¹. There are five movements: Andante 4/4, Allegro 3/4, Larghetto (E minor) 4/4, Allegro 3/4 and Gavotte 2/2.

All parts are kept fully occupied and are quite challenging - there are few full bars of rest: only one in first, three in second and four in third, and the majority of notes are either eighths or sixteenths. Tessitura for first part lies mostly in mid-high register; it includes six high b¹’s and tops out twice on c².

Only a dozen works for trombone trio are currently available from this publisher, and it is perhaps surprising that there are not a few more of them. This is a welcome addition to their number.