Review

Louis Moreau Gottschalk
Souvenir de Porto Rico: Marche des Gibaros:

Arranged by Karl Hinterbichler


Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2007
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass

Souvenir de Porto Rico: Marche des Gibaros is an energetic piece originally written for solo piano by American composer, Louis Moreau Gottschalk. It was written in the fall of 1857 while Gottschalk was staying on a sugar plantation near Barceloneta, Puerto Rico. Inspired in the evenings on the porch of the plantation, Gottschalk created this work by combining a Puerto Rican folk song and rhythm patterns he learned while traveling in the Caribbean, as well as the United States, Europe, and South America. The Puerto Rican song is titled “Si me dan pastels, les dénmelos calientes,” which translates to “If you give me cakes, give them to me hot.” This melody is taken though a series of variations to construct the full work.
 
Hinterbichler's arrangement of this work for brass quintet is well adapted in range and technique for the instruments of the ensemble. But, like many arrangements, it does require a fair bit of endurance. It should be noted that the arrangement calls for piccolo trumpet in one section of the first trumpet part. The first trumpet may wish to continue playing piccolo into the next section of the piece for range considerations. Also, for balance purposes, the first trumpet may wish to remove a mute at rehearsal C. This is a fine addition to the brass quintet repertoire. It is enjoyable to play and hear, and it gives rebirth to a lesser-known piano work.

-Don Babcock
Eastern Michigan University