Review

Anton Bruckner
Symphony No.8 Adagio: Fragment

Arranged by Randall Malmstrom

Trombone choir: 6 tenor, 2 bass trombones (optional contrabass)

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2022
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 8 trombones

A great many of the works of Anton Bruckner translate especially well to instrument combinations in the low brass family and this arrangement for trombone octet by Randall Malmstrom is no exception. Bruckner’s marvelous Symphony No.8 features a gorgeous, though lengthy, Adagio movement that frequently runs twenty to twenty-five minutes in recordings and performances. In this fragment the arranger includes several prominent passages; however, much developmental material is omitted so that the arrangement is approximately six minutes in duration.

The solemnity of purpose in the Adagio is well-suited to the modern trombone octet and this work will prove a worthy challenge for the advanced collegiate or professional octet. Malmstrom scores the octet as two pairs of trombone quartets with the trombone 1 and trombone 5 parts being the high voice in each quartet and the trombone 4 and trombone 8 voices scored for bass trombone. Trombones 1-3 and 4-7 are scored in tenor clef and the two bass trombone parts remain in bass clef. Trombone 1 could optionally be played on alto trombone, but it would not be strictly necessary as the part ascends from f to d-flat2, while trombone 5 is scored from e-flat to c-flat2. Bass trombones 4 and 8 are scored as low as DD-flat with contrabass trombone listed as optional for trombone 8.

In addition to requiring sustained lyrical playing and deft ensemble balance, this arrangement contains some particularly challenging passagework in the inner voices. For example, trombone 4 and trombone 6 trade-off for a short four-bar arpeggiated 16th note passage that was originally scored for harp in Bruckner’s Symphony. Another passage later in the arrangement features trombones 6 and 7, and trombones 2-4 in pairings of 16th note triplet figurations. Mercifully the tempo is quite slow, so the passages will present a pleasant and surmountable musical challenge. This fine, musically cohesive, and highly recommended arrangement presents a welcome challenge to all ensemble members and is a great addition to our trombone ensemble repertoire.