Review

Béla Bartók
Romanian Christmas Songs:

Arranged by Ralph Sauer


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

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

Romanian Christmas Songs, arranged by Ralph Sauer, is a work for trombone and piano comprised of twenty brief vignettes categorized into two series. The original source material is piano music by Béla Bartók which was inspired by folk songs in celebration of the Winter Solstice. Sauer originally arranged this collection for bass trombone or tuba with piano, but this updated version is for tenor trombone and piano. 

This collection is compatible with advanced players due to its almost exclusive use of tenor clef and the challenging mixed meters, featuring 3/8, 5/8, and 7/8. The range sits nicely on tenor trombone with an f-attachment going from C to c2. The work is masterfully arranged with its lilting meter changes and the conversational style between the trombone and piano voices. This composition would be a great way to open the second half of a recital due to the dancelike nature of these quick works and each movement being attaca, creating around five minutes of playing straight through.