Review

Edouard Lalo
Two Pieces:

Arranged by Ralph Sauer


Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2010
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Piano score and solo part

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano
Secondary Genre: Solo Bass/Contrabass Trombone - with piano

Sauer continues to promote accessible lyrical works for those wanting to add variety to their recitals with these arrangements of Lalo’s Op.14, No. 1 and No.2, Chanson Villageoise and Sérénade. Donated for review by Cherry Classics, excerpts of the solo and piano parts are available at: www.cherryclassics.com. Originally composed for violin (or cello) and piano in 1854, both works are set in lower keys than the original, span a conservative range, and include multiple breath marks and suggested dynamics. The trombone part is given in tenor clef and the tuba (bass trombone) part in bass clef. Although the tuba (bass trombone) version is set a seventh lower than the trombone version, performers should feel at liberty to take passages down an additional octave to showcase their strengths.

Chanson Villageoise is a lyrical work employing many forms of ornamentation. The original meter signature of ‘2’ has been replaced with the more standard simple duple meter of ‘2/2.’ Additionally, Sauer changes the final note of the solo line to the tonic instead of the third, but he does not make a corresponding change in the piano accompaniment that is only sounding the root and fifth. As such, I would either play the third of the chord, as per the composer’s original intention, or have the pianist play the entire chord. Sérénade is a slightly longer piece that employs several tempo changes, but Sauer includes helpful piano cues.

-Peter Fielding
Mahidol University