Review

Gabriel Fauré
Agnus Dei: from the Requiem, Op. 48

Arranged by Edward Hayes and Frank Harmantas

5 tenors (4 in tenor clef), 1 bass

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2024
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 6 trombones

Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem is one of the composer’s most celebrated works. Unlike many requiems, which often convey a more judgmental or dramatic tone, Fauré’s Requiem is notable for its hopeful and consoling character. This trombone sextet carries that same spirit in an arrangement of the Agnus Dei from the Requiem. The piece is slow and solemn, featuring twisting chromatic moments with delayed resolutions. It is a wonderful addition to the trombone ensemble repertoire.

This work requires confident upper-register playing and a high degree of musical maturity, making it best suited for advanced performers. Scored for five tenor trombones and one bass trombone, it requires an expansive range from all tenor voices, with parts written in both tenor and bass clef. The arrangers, however, demonstrate thoughtful attention to pacing and endurance by distributing the more demanding material across the ensemble, effectively sharing the workload among all players.

The piece is exceptionally beautiful, and a strong university-level ensemble could successfully meet the demands of this arrangement. Its lush harmonies and lyrical melodies offer layers of musical depth for performers to explore and fully realize.

Agnus Dei from the Requiem, Op. 48 was donated for review by Cherry Classics Music and is available at www.CherryClassics.com. Combined instruments range: C-flat to d2.