Review

Edward Elgar
The Severn Suite Op.87:

Arranged by M.J. LaFratta

Brass quintet

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

The Severn is Britain’s longest river; it rises in the hills of mid-Wales, flows into England near Shrewsbury, then through Elgar’s native city of Worcester, clearly the major inspiration for this music, and reaches the sea in the Bristol Channel, which separates South Wales and England.

Elgar (1857-1934) wrote this suite in 1930 as a test-piece for brass band and dedicated it to George Bernard Shaw who had been encouraging him to write a third symphony. This work obviously had personal significance for him, and references some of his earlier pieces, including music written in 1879 for a wind quintet in which he played bassoon. It also references his friend and publisher A.J. Jaeger, who for some time had also been trying to persuade him to write a third symphony, maybe so much as to say ‘this is it.’ In 1932 he produced an orchestral version, recorded it with the London Symphony Orchestra and conducted its first public performance in Worcester.

The Suite is in arch form; its outer movements are thematically and tonally related, and the central fugal movement, the only one in a minor key, ‘The Cathedral’ has special significance. Elgar once played the organ there, and in 1919 his ‘Cello Concerto was premiered there. During the development of this movement, its two themes, representing Elgar himself and his wife Alice, overlap to form an even flow of eighth notes.

There are five movements played without breaks:
I. Introduction: Worcester Castle - Pomposo (B-flat, 2:10)
II. Toccata: Tournament Grounds - Allegro molto (E-flat, 4:20)
III. Fugue: The Cathedral - Andante (B-flat minor, 3:00)
IV. Minuet : the Commandery - Moderato (E-flat, 5:00)
V. Coda - Lento/Pomposo - (B-flat, 2:00).

The subtitles do not appear in Elgar’s ms and might have been added by Jaeger. The deeply felt slow movement is extremely beautiful. The preceding movement is exciting and virtuosic, and the last brings the work to a satisfying and memorable conclusion. This is an outstanding addition to the brass quintet repertoire.

The two upper parts are for B-flat trumpet or cornet; first part goes up to c³. Fourth part, A-flat-g¹, for trombone or euphonium is in bass clef throughout. Its overall 552 measures include 41 full measures of rest and more than 50 measures of smoothly flowing eighth notes. The four upper parts call for mutes (unspecified). The publisher’s web-site indicates this arrangement as ‘suitable for advanced performers.’

Mark J. LaFratta plays trombone and practices law in Richmond, VA. The publication includes interesting and insightful notes he has written on this work and its composer.