Review

Sergey Prokofiev
Humorous Scherzo Op. 12, No. 9: for Trombone Quartet

Arranged by Ralph Sauer

parts 1 and 2 in tenor clef

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2023
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

This arrangement is dedicated: In memory of Dietrich Emory Sauer (1971-2022). He was Ralph and Linda’s son. A photograph of him as a baby, taken in 1971, appeared in the ITA Journal Vol 40 No.3, July 2012, p. 27. Emory Remington is holding him. In more recent years, he lived in Flagstaff, Arizona. A Memorial Scholarship in Trombone has been established in his name at the Curtis Institute.

Originally for piano, this piece is from Prokofiev's early years and shows the playful side of his personality. It was written in 1914, the same year as the Scythian Suite and the Violin Concerto No. 1. Prokofiev himself arranged it for four bassoons. It is built on repetitive patterns in the lower parts with a wide-ranging melodic dialogue in the upper parts; numerous syncopations abound. There are three sections, the 1st and 3rd in C major, marked Allegro, and the 2nd in D major, poco più lento. The writing throughout, however, is highly chromatic, stretching tonality to its elastic limit.

Trombones 1 & 2 are given in tenor clef, 3 & 4 (bass trombone) in bass clef. Range for 1st is c – a1; bass trombone covers BB-flat - B. All parts are quite demanding - 3rd part has 26 measures of a repeated eighth-note A - A-flat appoggiaturas; 4th has 50 consecutive measures of staccato eighth notes. Dynamics range from pp to ff. This piece (as always) needs much attention to detail, and is appropriate for advanced performers. All challenges met, it will be an exhilarating and enjoyable piece for all concerned.