Review

Friederich Belcke
Schweizer-Klänge:

Arranged by Niels-Ole Bo Johansen

Solo bass trombone and wind band

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

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Solo Bass/Contrabass Trombone - with band

Friederich (Friedrich) August Belcke (1795-1874) was a celebrated 19th century German trombonist. In addition to a 30-year career as a trombone soloist, Belcke also composed some early solos for himself to perform. At least two of those works, Schweizer-Klänge and Preghiera (Prayer), were dedicated to “His Royal Highness the Prince Christian Friederich of Denmark.”

Schweizer-Klänge (Swiss sounds) was composed for solo bass trombone with military band prior to 1835, where it is known to have been performed on a “concert spirituel” (a program consisting of both sacred and secular music) along with members of the Royal Danish Court Orchestra. Chronologically, the Schweizer-Klänge predates what is arguably the most well-known mid-nineteenth century trombone solo, Ferdinand David’s Concertino (1837).  Scored for one flute, pairs of oboes, clarinets, bassoons, and horns, a bass instrument (either contrabassoon, tuba or double bass), and triangle, the piece could be performed either with a chamber group of 11 or a larger wind band if desired.

Composed in rondo form (ABABA), the opening slow and lyrical theme is almost exclusively constructed of arpeggios from the B-flat harmonic series while the contrasting B section consists of fast, staccato scale passages. Each time the A section returns it is lengthened with more elaborate figurations and the B section returns as an exact repetition of the previous statement.

While Schweizer-Klänge may not find its way into your “Top 5” nineteenth century trombone favorites, it remains an interesting example of solo trombone literature from the mid-nineteenth century and is definitely worth investigating further. Interestingly, while the work was composed for bass trombone, it could just as well be performed on tenor trombone since the solo part only descends below the staff for the final note, BB-flat; all but two notes in the entire solo lay outside the melodic range, f to b-flat¹. Overall, the piece would make an excellent addition to an undergraduate recital or perhaps a graduate level performance with an emphasis on early trombone solo repertoire. Many thanks to Niels-Ole Bo Johansen for editing Schweizer-Klänge, along with other works by Belcke, and preparing them for modern performances.