Review

Hans Leo Hassler
Verbum caro factum est:

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

Dr. Bradley Palmer, Associate Professor of Trombone at Columbus State University offers the trombone community an excellent arrangement of this six-part choral work by Hans Leo Hassler. Hassler (1564-1612), a late Renaissance composer known primarily for his contributions to vocal genres of his time, included “Verbum caro factum est” in his collection, Cantiones Sacrae, published in 1591. This particular song was most likely a Christmas madrigal as its text comes from John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

The work originally centers on A, but Palmer arranges it in D to better suit the range of the trombone. The combined range of the parts is C to b-flat1. Being true to the original work, Palmer is careful to denote necessary breath marks only as reflected by the text.  As the original is devoid of dynamic directions, Palmer inserted them, being conservative so as to not overwhelm. The tempo marking of half-note = 88-92 is also added by Palmer, however performances of the vocal work range from 70-136 beats per minute to the half-note. On the publisher’s website the piece is listed as accessible to intermediate performers. Its simplicity in rhythm and chord structure makes it not only a beautiful addition to the trombone ensemble repertoire, but also a good study on ensemble phrasing and blending.

-Cory Mixdorf
University of Arkansas