Review

Gabriel Fauré
Pie Jesu from the Requiem, Op. 48: for 6-part Trombone Ensemble

Arranged by Edward Hayes and Frank Harmantas

5 tenors, 1 bass

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

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 6 trombones

The Pie Jesu from Gabriel Fauré’s “Requiem” is one of the most poignant melodies in the Classical repertoire. The Requiem itself took some twenty years to reach completion and is now Fauré’s most regularly performed work. The Pie Jesu has itself become a popular piece, and regularly finds its way into voice recitals and can often be heard at funeral services.

Ed Hays and Frank Harmantas have beautifully arranged the Pie Jesu for trombone sextet. The arrangement targets an advanced intermediate ensemble. All of the parts are in bass clef. The upper five parts can be comfortably played on tenor trombone and part six is intended for bass trombone. The melody generally alternates between the first and second parts. The gentle eighth note motion of the accompaniment winds its way through each of the lower five parts. The tessitura is reasonable. The inner parts remain in the staff. The second part momentarily rises to c2 on several occasions, and the first part ends on a high b-flat2. The bass trombone part could be performed with a single trigger F attachment although the last several measures descend to CC, and a second valve would ease the performance.

Hays and Harmantas’s arrangement is worthy of attention. For the college ensemble, it could serve as a lovely respite in the middle of a recital. It would also be a moving musical offering for a memorial service.