Review

Frank Martin
Ballade:

Vienna, , Austria
Publisher: Universal Editions
Date of Publication: 1940

Piano score, trombone and tenor saxophone solo parts

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

After a series of copyright issues, Frank Martin’s (1890-1974) Ballade has been reissued by Universal Edition in a “legal” version. For the trombonists in the brass band tradition, a separate tenor saxophone part is included, with octave considerations. The reviewed edition contains a piano score with an indication of available orchestra parts. Most of the text is printed in French and German and the print is easy to read on durable paper. Composed in 1940 for the Geneva International Trombone Competition, this work has inspired many composers to write for trombone. A native of Geneva, Martin began serious study of Schönberg’s 12-tone technique eight years prior to its publication. While not completely abandoning tonality, this work opens on A with a declamatory statement of 11 different pitches before repeating a pitch. Used technically and expressively, the melodic intervals of minor second and minor third are pervasive. Elegant lyrical writing is contrasted by rapid chromatic passages in the Allegro section, one-third of the way into the work. Two-thirds of the way through the work, a contrasting 6/8 section consisting of light motivic figures is written, which leads into a Grandioso section in 3/4 meter, while the trombone part retains the 6/8 feel. Themes from the introduction are brought back at the conclusion, ending on A – the same pitch the work began. A 7.5 minute duration is indicated, however available recordings extend this upward to 9 minutes. 12 recordings were found in the ITA database with such notables as Christian Lindberg, Carsten Svanberg, Mark Lawrence, and Branimir Slokar, performing with piano and orchestral accompaniment. Ballade has become a standard in the solo repertoire and is frequently heard on graduate and professional recitals. Range is demanding, requiring flexibility between BB-flat1 and d2, and the ability to read alternating between bass and tenor clefs. The piano part consists of subtleties in color and dynamic which are more easily expressed in the orchestral version; and the rhythmic and harmonic demands require a mature performer to effectively perform this work.  

-David Stern
Lewiston, ME