Review

Edward Elgar
Sospiri Op.70:

Arranged by Ralph Sauer

Bass trombone and piano

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

Score and solo part.

Primary Genre: Solo Bass/Contrabass Trombone - with piano

Sospiri, dating from just before the First World War, was originally intended as a companion piece for Salut d’Amour (Love’s greeting or Love letter), but on completion he realized that it was actually quite a different and much more intense piece, so he changed the title from Soupir d’Amour (Sigh of Love) to Sospiri (Sighs); essentially changing French to Italian. The work was written by Elgar for string orchestra, harp and harmonium.

The transcription may well present a challenge for either tuba or bass trombone, as it is played extremely slowly and involves wide leaps up to an octave. The slow tempo makes demands on air capacity and control and the wide leaps in both directions need to he handled with great delicacy.

This piece is cast in a three-part, ABA structure. The opening and its return are to be played piano with its accompaniment quite softly played – in the orchestra version the accompanying volume is ppp! The middle section, with the octave leaps, ranges from mf to f. The piece in its entirety builds a great crescendo of emotion, paralleling its rises and falls in volume. As the opening material returns everything is again quite soft - ending in the relative major, quite soft.

An agreeable piece in late Romantic style, this should be a hit on a recital. It contains nice harmonic surprises and a lovely, long melodic line. Highly recommended.