Review

Ludwig van Beethoven
Scherzo from String Quartet Op.18, No.4:

Arranged by Kevin R. Dombrowski

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

Performances of Haydn and Beethoven string quartets epitomize the chamber music experience for musicians and audiences alike. Beethoven’s opus 18, published in 1800, comprise his initial group of six string quartets. The collection appeared only a year later than Haydn’s final collection of string quartets, opus 76 in 1799, offering Beethoven “… a chance to prove his merits.” The key center for the “Scherzo” is C major and it employs a sonata-trio form. The recapitulation of the opening fugal theme presents the material in playful, three-part counterpoint instead of a direct repeat. The four-note thematic motive is suggestive of the theme employed in his Symphony No.5, however the repeated three pitches is followed by an ascending fourth as opposed to the descending minor third in the symphony.

The pitch range and tessitura of trombone parts are well-managed by the arranger: trombone 1, B-flat-c¹ (tenor clef); trombone 2, G-a¹ (tenor clef); trombone 3, F-g¹ (bass clef); trombone 4, C-d¹ (bass clef). The bass trombone part contains tricky passages with quick arpeggios and large intervallic leaps. The first trombone part includes quick trills in upper range, of which some are incorrectly notated in the score though correct in the individual part. This arrangement demands a light, delicate playing style from the ensemble and performance at the softer dynamic levels to convey correct style. Most notated dynamics in the arrangement are p and pp, also sfp indicative of imitative entrances. The arrangement provides music in a style less often encountered by trombonists and is a welcome publication allowing refinement of oft neglected performance skills.