Review

Felix Mendelssohn
Songs Without Words Volume 4:

Arranged by Ralph Sauer


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

Piano score and solo part

Primary Genre: Solo Bass/Contrabass Trombone - with piano

Between 1829 and 1845 Felix Mendelssohn composed a series of lyrical piano pieces, later given the title Songs Without Words. Ralph Sauer has adapted these piano works into a wonderful set of arrangements for trombone and piano. The songs are highly lyrical, allowing the trombonist to showcase musicality, phrasing, and legato playing. Each song is a little over two minutes in length, with a total playing time for the entire collection of around fourteen minutes.

These lush, singing melodies would make a perfect set for showcasing lyricism on a recital program or serve as a great alternative to the standard Bordogni etudes. The concise length of each individual selection also provides performers flexibility in programming, whether choosing a single movement or presenting the full collection as a larger set. The piano writing translates naturally to the trombone, allowing performers to focus on phrasing and expressiveness rather than technical display. Range, length, and difficulty are well-suited for most advanced players. Sauer has transcribed this set of songs into two versions: one for tenor trombone written almost exclusively in tenor clef, and another for bass trombone (or tuba) written almost verbatim one octave lower in bass clef.

Songs Without Words was donated for review by Cherry Classics Music and is available at www.CherryClassics.com.  Written-pitch instrument ranges: tenor trombone version – E to c2, bass trombone version – C to c1.