Review

Traditional
Adeste Fidelis:

Arranged by Ives/Marc S. Williams

10 trombones; 8 tenors (1 in tenor clef; parts 7 & 8 divisi), 2 basses

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2023
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 9+ trombones (choir)

Charles Ives originally wrote Adeste Fidelis as a prelude for organ. It is often compared to his more well known organ composition Variations on America. As is true with Variations on America, some audiences may find this musical setting of Adeste Fidelis to be somewhat shocking and contrary to their expectations. In Adeste Fidelis, Ives experiments with various settings of the well known Christmas carol by the same name. Initially, the tune is played in inversion over a droned minor triad. As the piece develops, the inverted tune is accompanied by the non-inverted tune set in a different key.

Scored for eight tenor trombones and two bass trombones, these parts are not particularly demanding in terms of range, contrapuntal density, or rhythm. Aside from the first part being written on tenor clef, this arrangement should prove to be playable by most intermediate college level or advanced high school level trombonists. This 50-measure work is written in 4/4 time in three flats with mostly simple rhythms. Unfortunately, many of the inner parts seldom get to play much other than held pitches, the longest of which lasts twenty measures at a very slow tempo.

This arrangement of the Ives Adeste Fidelis is not particularly difficult to play or rehearse, and it could prove to be a nice way to expose new audiences to this classic work of Charles Ives.