Review

Anton Bruckner
Symphony No.7 Adagio: Fragment

Arranged by Randall Malmstrom

Trombone Octet: 6 tenor, 2 bass trombones

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

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 8 trombones

Randall Malmstrom has created many fine arrangements, mostly for trombone octet. This particular arrangement for double quartet is a fragment of the original 22+ minute movement. It will tax even the best trombone ensembles. 

Is this beautiful music? Yes. 

Is it wise to set this for trombone octet? I have serious doubts. 

For one thing, the slow tempo, often eighth note equals 76 bpm, will test lung capacities to the limit. Malmstrom has parts with four tied whole notes at this tempo. Yes, players will most likely stagger breathe but a C-sharp major chord sustained at a piano dynamic for roughly 25 seconds is a tall order.

The double quartet has bass trombones on the fourth and eighth parts. In mm.36-40 the fourth part extends down to GG-sharp, double whole note at forte. Even for the best lung capacities, this is an unreasonable challenge. So what will happen? Players will sustain as long as they can, breathe and try to re-enter without disturbing the flow. Oh yes, this is a C-sharp minor chord in 6/4 position while trombone 5 hangs on a g-sharp¹ whole note at, what I assume is forte; dynamics aren’t completely filled in here. There are players in this world who can pull this off and make it sound good, but there aren’t many!

The high parts are quite high. Trombones 1-3 are written in tenor clef. Early in the piece, trombone 2 has a solo line leading up to c-sharp². Trombone 1 extends higher, d-sharp², but at least an ossia note is given. However it is provided just for the highest note. What kind of melodic line will this create for the audience?

I repeat, this is beautiful music when played with the original instrumentation. For trombone octet? I’m afraid it won’t succeed.