Review

Richard Strauss
Wiener Philharmoniker Fanfare AV 109:

Arranged by Bob Burnham

9 tenors (5 in tenor clef), 3 basses, optional timpani

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)

This Fanfare was written for the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and premiered in 1924 at a ball to mark their 40th anniversary and to raise money for the orchestra's pension fund. It is scored for 12 trombones, 9 tenor and 3 bass, and timpani in F, B-flat, and E-flat.

It’s an exhilarating piece, in E-flat and in 4/4 time throughout, and characterized by much use of triplet eighth notes in all parts; and notes held over 2-3 measures, also in all parts. Much of the piece is marked at a dynamic of fortissimo, and the direction con tutta forza appears in different measures in 10 of the parts. Available resources are employed with due discretion; the full complement of trombones plays in 23 full measures out of 63 total, and a wide range of tonal combinations is used. Timpani are optional; Three drums are required.

Trombone parts 1-5 are in tenor clef, and parts 6-9 in bass clef. 1st part covers B-flat - c2, with an optional e-flat2. Trombones 6,7 & 8 go up to b-flat1. Bass trombone 3 goes down to BB-flat, with an optional EE-flat. The arrangement is suitable for advanced performers. Bob Burnham teaches and performs on trombone in Dallas, Texas.