Review

Gustav Mahler
Symphony No. 7: extracts from Rondo - Finale

Arranged by Randall Malmstrom

1 alto, 5 tenors (all in tenor clef), 2 basses (opt. contrabass)

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

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 8 trombones

Composed in 1904 and 1905 and premiered in Prague in 1908 with Mahler conducting, the Seventh Symphony remains one of Mahler's most enigmatic works. Its C major Rondo-Finale has long puzzled critics as much as it has delighted audiences. For brass players, the movement is best known for its famous high trumpet excerpt. Randall Malmstrom has arranged the section of the finale that contains this excerpt for eight part trombone ensemble: alto trombone, five tenor trombones, bass trombone, and contrabass trombone.

This arrangement is only 72 measures long at a brisk Allegro ordinario, and the thematic material passes through all eight parts, so no section of the ensemble is left only to accompany. Several passages call for virtuosic facility, and the ranges are demanding. The alto part reaches e2, the tenor parts reach c2, and the contrabass part descends to GG. The alto part is written in alto clef and the bass and contrabass parts in bass clef, while all five tenor parts are in tenor clef. The contrabass part could easily be played on bass trombone, although it requires considerable agility in the pedal register.

The parts and score are well edited with an abundance of articulation and dynamic markings and well placed rehearsal letters. With its virtuosic demands and wide range, Malmstrom's arrangement is probably best suited for advanced college or professional ensembles. It would certainly make for an impressive opener or closer on any trombone ensemble program.