Review

Benjamin Schroen
Fantasy Sonata Op.40:

Arranged by Keith Davies Jones


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

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

According to the editor, Benjamin Schroen was probably a German musician who lived and worked in Russia in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This version of the Fantasy Sonata is a reconstruction by the editor from a tuba transcription published in 1900 of the original solo for trombone that was lost and out of print. The piece consists for four short sections: an extended opening cadenza, an Adagio in 12/8 meter, a short interlude/cadenza and a faster finale, “Tempo appassionato,” to finish the work. The four sections are not really related melodically and jump abruptly from section to section without much development. Perhaps this emphasizes the fantasy aspect of the work. Schroen embraces some of the chromaticism seen in music of the late nineteenth century. The tonality of the opening cadenza is obscured by frequent modulation and the use of diminished seventh chords to create instability. The trombone part is limited in range, F-sharp-g1, and the technical passages are idiomatic, quite manageable for a high school level performer. The piano accompaniment is more difficult but can be played by a competent pianist. This is an interesting find by the editor and might be an easier and shorter alternative to more technical romantic, trombone literature for younger students.  Grade 3.