Review

Reinhold Gliere
“Russian Sailor’s Dance” from The Red Poppy:

Arranged by Angus Armstrong

four trumpets (piccolo plus three b-flat trumpets, trumpet 2 doubles on piccolo), two horns, four trombones, tuba, timpani, and four percussion (snare, triangle, cymbals, tambourine)

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2009
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 6+ brass (choir)

The arrangement is another in a series of popular classics set for brass ensemble from Cherry Classics. The familiar Russian Sailors Dance is set for four trumpets (piccolo plus three b-flat trumpets, trumpet 2 doubles on piccolo), two horns, four trombones, tuba, timpani, and four percussion (snare, triangle, cymbals, tambourine). Mr. Armstrong’s arrangement is true to the original; his orchestration successfully achieves the color changes needed to make the adaption interesting. I especially liked the contrast of light and effervescent piccolo trumpets with the heavier low brass sections, just as the woodwinds and strings contrast the low brass in the original. The difficulty of the piccolo trumpet parts increase the overall difficulty level of the arrangement, though the rest of the parts are probably grade 4. This is an excellent arrangement for a professional brass group or a more advanced college brass choir. 

-Timothy Howe
University of Missouri