Review

Geogre Frederic Handel
Sarabande and Variations: from Suite No. 4 in D minor for Brass Quintet

Arranged by Vikentios Gionanidis

2 b-flat trumpets, 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

Handel wrote this piece for solo keyboard (harpsichord) between 1703 and 1706. It may now be most familiar from its more recent inclusion in several TV dramas and a movie score. It is both profound and rather sad.

This arrangement is scored for 2 trumpets in B-flat, horn in F, trombone, and tuba. It’s in 3/2 meter and marked Grave at half-note = 60. The theme is comprised of 16 measures and there are two Variations each of eight measures. The first two sections of the piece are repeated. Placement of a repeat marking before the final section is probably an error. The trombone part is given in bass clef, range A-f1. Trumpets are in B-flat, 1st topping out at g2 (transposed). Range for horn is d-a2 (transposed). The tuba goes down to DD.

This is a welcome addition to the repertoire, and helps to fill a niche that up until now has not been over-occupied. Vikentios Gioanidis has played with many of the world’s leading orchestras and currently holds the position of Principal Tuba in the orchestra of the Deutsche Oper in Berlin.