Review

Richard Wagner
Overture from Tannhäuser: abridged for Brass Quintet and Optional Organ

Arranged by Damiano Drei

Brass quintet: 2 C trumpets, F horn , trombone, tuba, optional organ

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

For trombonists, the operatic output of Richard Wagner provides a treasure trove of memorable music. While quite a number of them are staples of the orchestral excerpt canon, his operas, and/or their overtures, are often simply fun to play. The overture to his 1845 opera Tannhäuser makes frequent appearances on excerpt lists for both tenor and bass trombone due to its heroic statements of the melody of that opera’s “Pilgrim’s Chorus.”  Italian trombonist and teacher Damiano Drei has taken portions of Wagner’s overture, a soft and a loud statement of the theme linked by Wagner’s buildup to the final statement, and set them for brass quintet with optional organ.

The trumpet parts are in C in both score and parts, while the horn, trombone, and tuba parts are in expected keys and clefs. The organ part includes registration markings at the beginning and sparsely later in the piece. The brass quintet is tacet through the soft opening statement of the theme if organ is used. If organ is not used, the piece opens with the middle three voices of the quintet and requires a trombonist with a good, soft, legato trigger range. Apart from the potential lower trombone notes in the opening, the rest of the piece includes no extreme registers or techniques in any of the parts. The trumpet parts are actually relatively low at points. All players will need to utilize both lyric playing and heroic, "Wagnerian," loud playing. At the climax, the trombone and second trumpet take the melody, which trombone players will enjoy.

The score and brass parts are neatly laid out with cues in thoughtful places. There is a separate organ score that makes the organ part easier to read at the expense of more page turns. Although Drei indicates the arrangement can be performed by the quintet alone, I feel the piece will be at its most impressive when the sonic weight and extra rhythmic activity of the organ part are included. This piece represents a nice addition to the repertoire for brass quintet and organ.