Review

Josef Rheinberger
Abendlied Op.69, No.3:

Arranged by Bradley Palmer


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

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 6 trombones

This arrangement, donated for review by Cherry Classics, is dedicated to the Columbus State University Trombone Choir. It was premiered by the combined trombonists attending the 2010 Southeast Trombone Symposium. This arrangement has also been performed by the Columbus State University Trombone Choir and as the final work to end the 2011 Southeast Trombone Symposium. Sample audio from the 2010 symposium performance, as well as score and part excerpts can be viewed at the publisher’s website: www.cherryclassics.com. 

Palmer’s arrangement is effective and includes many phrasing and breathing cues reflective of the lyrics and punctuation. Transposed a perfect fifth lower than the original choral work, numerous accidentals are employed, although this could have been minimized by changing the key signature. Scored for five tenor trombones and one bass trombone, the music works well with a trombone choir of mixed-ability performers. The upper three parts are given in tenor clef. While the first trombone part ascends to c2, the second only climbs to g1. Although the bass trombone part descends to a pedal BB-flat, the fifth tenor trombone only reaches F.

For those interested in listening to an alternate interpretation and performance of Abendlied, I recommend the 2010 Albany recording Chicago Trombone Consort that presents Mark Fisher’s setting of this choral work. For those wishing to hear other audio examples of the Columbus State University Trombone Choir, I encourage you to visit their site http://music.columbusstate.edu/trombone/clips_and_photos.php.

-Peter Fielding
Mahidol University