Review

Richard Strauss
Splendid Strauss:

Arranged by James Haynor

10-part Brass Ensemble and timpani: 4 B-flat trumpets, 2 F horns, 2 trombones, 2 tubas, timpani

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

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 6+ brass (choir)

This is a compilation of brief excerpts from Also Sprach Zarathustra (Sunrise), B-flat, Ein Heldenleben, E-flat/C, Der Rosenkavalier (Waltz), A-flat, Don Juan, Gmaj/min and back to Rosenkavalier Waltz, now in B-flat. Scoring is for two groups of two B-flat trumpets, F horn, trombone, tuba, and timpani in B-flat/F and G/C. A passage for first horn is marked solo, but there is otherwise no indication for more than one player per part.

Strauss’ style has been described as ‘inexhaustible cantilena,’ and these pieces, composed between 1888 and 1910, exemplify both his lyrical gifts and his stylistic consistency. Trombones are kept well occupied and have interesting parts; both are given in bass clef throughout; overall range for both is F-f. Trumpet 1A goes up to c³; the other trumpet parts contain no high register notes. The publisher’s web-site indicates this arrangement is ‘Appropriate for advanced performers.’ James Haynor is a free-lance trumpet player in the Milwaukee area with numerous published arrangements to his name.