Review

Gustav Holst
Personent Hodie:

Arranged by Jeff Reynolds

3 tenors (1 in alto), 1 bass, 1 contrabass

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2023
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 5 trombones

Originally a Latin Christmas carol from the late 16th century, Gustav Holst arranged Personent Hodie for unison voices and orchestra in 1916. At 56 measures in total length, this arrangement is relatively short, even compared to the original.

Scored for three tenors, one bass, and one contrabass trombone, these parts are certainly playable with four tenors and one bass trombone. Aside from the first part being written in tenor clef and playing up to d-flat2 and the contrabass part playing down to DD-flat, this arrangement should prove to be playable by most intermediate college level or advanced high school level trombonists. The entire work is written in 2/2 time in five flats with mostly simple rhythms and a limited amount of contrapuntal density.

The parts and score are well edited for legibility. The Jeff Reynolds arrangement of Holst’s Personnel Hodie is a lovely work that is perfectly suited for many holiday programs.