Review

Giovanni Gabrieli
Sancta Maria succurre miseris: from Sacre Symphoniae 1597, No. 8, Ch. 13

Arranged by Flavio Pannacci

2 altos, 3 tenros (1 in tenor clef), 2 basses

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2025
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 7 trombones

Champion composer of the Renaissance era, Giovanni Gabrieli’s music is a cornerstone in the modern brass player’s repertoire. Taken from the larger vocal work Sacrae Symphoniae 1597, Flavio Pannacci arranged the motet Sancta Maria succurre miseris for trombone septet. Written for two alto trombones, three tenor trombones, and two bass trombones, this work features dense polyphonic materials. Though the rhythmic substance is relatively straightforward, this composition is better suited for advanced players due to the textural and clef demands. Each of the seven parts are equally important as the melodies are passed around every individual part. Pannacci modernizes Gabrieli’s dynamics by indicating crescendos and decrescendos which can aid players in their navigation of the dense orchestration. The range of the piece goes from E-flat in the second bass trombone up to d-flat2 in the first alto. This glorious arrangement captivates the power of the trombone and its direct relation to the human voice.