Review

Vittorio Monti
Csardas:

Arranged by Alastair Kay


Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2005
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

This is a trombone quartet version of the (only) famous composition by Monti, originally written for violin and piano. Csardas is a traditional Hungarian Folk Dance, and this setting is an opportunity to showcase the virtuosity of the soloist in terms of rapid multiple tonguing and range. One of the classic trombone versions is the Youtube solo performance by Christian Lindberg, which exaggerates the rubato nature of the piece to extreme proportions. This arrangement goes up to high f2 in the first part and pedal AA in the bass part. The piece is best approached by a group with an extremely ambitious and theatrical first player.

-Joel Elias
Sacramento State University