Review

Pyotr Ilych Tchaikovsky
Festival Coronation March:

Arranged by Steven Gamble

Brass Quintet: 2 B-flat trumpets, F horn, trombone, tuba

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

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass

This was originally an orchestral work commissioned by the city of Moscow for the coronation of Tsar Alexander III in 1883. As in its immediate predecessor, 1812 Overture written the previous year, the score references the anthem God Save the Tsar. This appears in the trombone part at mm81-87.

This arrangement is in D-flat. Bass and tenor clefs are used in the trombone part, range A-flat-a-flat¹. This is not Tchaikovsky at his best, but this piece will certainly be enjoyable to play. It is appropriate for advanced players. Steven Gamble was a founding member of the Chicago Chamber Brass and retired in 2021 as trombonist with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra.