Review

Claudio Monteverdi
Crucifixus: for trombone Quartet

Arranged by Jeff Reynolds

3 tenors (1 in tenor clef), 1 bass

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

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

Monteverdi’s Crucifixus is part of his Messa a 4 da capella written while he served at St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. It was published in 1641 as part of a collection of sacred music titled Selva morale e spirituale. The Latin text is part of the mass and addresses the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

Jeff Reynold’s arrangement is for trombone quartet and it is a literal transcription of the original composition for voices. There are three main melodic ideas that are each introduced in one voice and then passed around the ensemble. The motives are artistically layered on top of one another. The composition uses a variety of part groupings with 1, 2, 3, and 4 voices. The first main idea is presented in a detached cantabile style, but the articulation is mostly legato for the second half of the work.

The parts span from D in the fourth part to b1 in the first part. All parts are in bass clef except for the first part, which is in tenor clef. There are no mutes necessary. The simple rhythm and manageable range for most parts makes this arrangement accessible to high school level and above.