Review

Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sérénade Op.3 No.5:

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

This was written for piano in 1892; the Prelude in C-sharp Minor is No.2 of the set. A light and airy piece in 3/8 meter, the arrangement is given in the original key of B-flat minor. The trombone part is given in tenor clef, range c-c². Marking for first 30 measures is Sostenuto, after that, Tempo di Valse.

Typically for this composer, the piano part is not easy. A span of a ninth is called for in both hands, and there are leaps of two octaves for the left hand. The solo part is also quite demanding with many groups of triplet and quintuplet 16ths. However, the only notes beyond fourth position are two low c’s; no large slide movements are needed. A seamless legato and the ever-abiding goal of playing really beautifully may be achieved in this little gem.