Review

Erich Korngold
Mein Sehnen, mein Wähnen from 'Die Tote Stadt':

Arranged by Denis Jiron

Trombone Quartet: four trombones: 3 tenor, 1 bass trombone

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

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

Pierrot’s Tanzlied “Mein Sehnen, mein Wähnen” is a beautiful late romantic aria reminiscent of Richard Strauss from Act II of Die Tote Stadt by Erich Korngold. His slow, lush, sentimental waltz is delicately arranged for trombone quartet in a way that preserves the dream-like and nostalgic meaning of the text: “My yearning, my obsession, they take me back in dreams.” The first trombone part covers the baritone vocal line and the remaining parts provide the simple sustained accompaniment. The inner trombone parts also cover the horn counter melodies from the original orchestra score. One aspect of the arrangement that I wondered about was the use of cup mute in the second trombone part in the final orchestral interlude before the last vocal section. In the original this is an open horn part. The color change doesn’t seem necessary for balance either. Ranges are quite reasonable; the work is accessible to advanced high school through professional level performers. As with most aria transcriptions, it requires sensitive attention to phrasing and rubato to be most effective - great for a chamber music or student recital.