Review

Claude Debussy
Two Selections from "The Children’s Corner":

Arranged by Ralph Sauer

Bass trombone/tuba and piano

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2016
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Grade 4. Score and solo part.

Primary Genre: Solo Bass/Contrabass Trombone - with piano

Debussy composed this suite over the years 1906-1908 and dedicated it to his daughter. The two selections, The Little Shepard and Golliwogg’s Cakewalk, reflect the playful and lighthearted sentiment Debussy undoubtedly wished to convey to his daughter. These two modal movements contrast one another and are good representations of Debussy’s impressionistic style. They provide an opportunity for trombonists to study this genre of music through performance. Each movement exploits a moderate range, E-flat-d¹, and lives in the middle of the staff the majority of the time.

The Little Shepard presents great pedagogical opportunities to work on common trombone issues. Demanding a smooth legato articulation throughout the meat register of the bass trombone, the movement also demands facility at ppp-mp dynamics. The sextuplet passages require the trombonist to separate slide motion from air and shape to the topography of the phrase. The movement requires the ability to convey meter in the midst of rubato as there are several tempo changes and periodic cadenzas.

Golliwogg’s Cakewalk is a Frenchman’s version of ragtime. With little research, a recording of Debussy playing this movement can be found. The variable tempi will at first seem at odds with the ragtime features of the piece. The real challenge, however, lies in the performers ability to coax out the appropriate melodic fragments scattered between bass trombone and piano.

Two Selections from”The Children’s Corner” offers unique opportunities for the undergraduate level bass trombonist to grow technically and musically. The tuba, undoubtedly, makes for a more compelling performance of the work with the instrument filling the space that can so often leave Debussy piano arrangements of this type feeling sparse. Nevertheless, the growing bass trombonist will gain much by taking this work to their practice room.