Review

Alexander Borodin
String Trio in G Minor: on Russian Folk Song "Chem tebya ya ogorchila"

Arranged by Justin Chiang

Brass Quintet: 2 C trumpets, F horn, trombone, tuba

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2021
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass

In 1855, to relieve the rigors of medical school, Alexander Borodin composed the String Trio in G Minor. The work is a set of variations based upon a well-known Russian folk song “What have I done to hurt you?” This youthful work, composed long before Borodin became an established composer, remained unpublished until the middle of the 20th Century. Here trombonist Justin Chiang skillfully sets the Trio for brass quintet.

The Trio begins with three voices introducing the plaintive opening phrase of the folk song in succession. After a florid, quasi-improvisation on the opening phrase brings the introduction to a close, the theme is stated in its entirety followed by a set of variations. The first is quiet and meandering. The second is dramatic, featuring rising arpeggios and jagged intervals. The third is playful and staccato, mimicking pizzicato strings. Flowing triplet sixteenth lines alternate throughout the parts and in and around the theme in the fourth variation. The final variation is the longest. It returns to a slower tempo and the melody and countermelodies weave through the ensemble. The work closes exactly as it began.

Chiang’s setting is faithful to the original work. He distributes the violin part between the two trumpet parts. The horn and occasionally the trombone cover the viola part, and the trombone and tuba split the cello part. The C trumpet parts require mature players with a secure upper register. The horn part does not require sustained upper register playing, but the performer will need flexibility and a strong sense of line. Although the trombone part has fewer challenges, it does contain important melodic moments and at one point rises to a high b2. The tuba part is the easiest of the five, but it too has critical melodic content.

This setting of the Borodin Trio is extremely satisfying. It has reasonable technical challenges for advanced players combined with musical challenges that are rewarding. Chiang has done an excellent job of spreading the melodic wealth of the original trio throughout the five voices of the quintet. This setting requires mature musicians to seamlessly articulate these musical conversations.