Review

Claude Debussy
Arabesque and Danse bohémienne:

Arranged by Ralph Sauer


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

Piano score and solo part

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

Claude Debussy's Arabesque No. 1, composed between 1888 and 1891, is a groundbreaking work in the Impressionist piano repertoire, showcasing Debussy's innovative use of harmony and tonality. Danse Bohémienne is one of Debussy's earliest surviving compositions, written in 1880 when he was just 18 years old. It showcases the composer's emerging style and fascination with Eastern European folk music. Ralph Sauer pairs these two works in another of his arrangements for solo trombone and piano.

This transcription will be a challenge for the advanced player. Rapid, cascading triplet figures will be a technical challenge especially if the trombonist aspires to the rapid tempos of pianists. Its tessitura is high—in and above the tenor clef staff—rising to a high c-sharp2. Ritards, rubatos, and stringendos require many musical choices. Sauer sets the Danse Bohémienne down one step from the original b minor to a minor. It features the quirky, off-beat rhythms of Eastern European dance and rapid sixteenth note passages. Its range is less demanding than the Arabesque but creating the characteristic style of the dance will require musical maturity.

These arrangements are expertly crafted. Sauer thoughtfully incorporates sufficient rest into the trombone part. The part is well marked. His expressive suggestions and phrasing recommendations are useful. Combining these two early Debussy pieces into one publication was a brilliant stroke, and they will be a whimsical addition to any recital.