Review

Tomaso Albinoni (Giazotto)
Adagio in G minor:

Arranged by Ralph Sauer


Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2011
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

The 53 operas composed by Tomaso Albinoni (1671-1751) are forgotten, some of his tunes live on in the ‘borrowings’ of J.S.Bach; but his reputation now rests almost entirely on the Adagio in G minor for strings and organ continuo that Remo Giazotto (1910-1998) reconstructed from the figured bass of an unfinished trio sonata movement. Albinoni’s other Adagio is the slow movement of his d minor oboe concerto Op.9. Both have a hauntingly beautiful quality. 

This finely crafted transcription for 4-part trombone ensemble is beautiful too. It is also quite demanding. First part, range e-flat–d-flat2, needs a secure high register. Upper three parts need a good legato, especially in the central rubato sections, where especially expressive playing is required. In the outer sections, fourth part, range C-c, maintains the steady pulse of the bass line, which is mostly written portato. Dynamics range from pp to ff. There is little sense that this piece would not have been composed for four trombones in the first place. It should quickly become a popular repertoire item for college-level ensemble. More than one player can be used on each part, except in the rubato sections. Ralph Sauer dedicated this arrangement to Nancy Lee O’Brien, a singer, pianist and educator who died in 2011 at the age of 52.  

-Keith Davies Jones
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada