Review

Frank Bridge
Four Pieces:

Arranged by Ralph Sauer


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

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

Donated for review by Cherry Classics, Ralph Sauer's edition of Frank Bridge’s Four Short Pieces (1912) is a welcome addition to trombone recital repertoire for those wanting to program a lyrical and accessible work. Frank Bridge (1879-1941) was Benjamin Britten’s composition teacher and as we approach the centenary of the first publication of his Four Short Pieces, it is nice to learn of a trombone edition that promotes Bridge’s music to new audiences. 

Originally for violin or cello and piano, Sauer’s edition is devoid of string bow markings and includes slight dynamic, phrasing, and note duration edits. While the music is accessible and song-like, it was clearly written for the instrumentalist as it spans a much wider range than comparable vocal repertoire, G-b1. The solo part is cast in bass clef, differing from the cello version that includes a fair bit of tenor clef. Although I would expect any of my students capable of playing the piece to already be literate in tenor clef, this bass clef version circumvents any potential clef-reading constraints. In comparing editions for the pianist, the third piece “Lullaby” contains slight improvements over the original printing concerning the division of notes between the clefs in the piano stave, although some of the original pedaling is absent.

Cherry Classics’ website www.cherryclassics.com offers samples of the solo and piano scores for each of these pieces. For those interested, I would recommend listening to Louise Williams’ recording of these pieces on viola: Frank Bridge, The Music For Viola (ASV Living Era (ASIN: B00000K36M)). This music is suitable for a recital as a lighter counterbalance to heavier repertoire. 

-Peter Fielding
Mahidol University