Review

Mathias Weckmann
Sonata No.2; Sonata No.3; Sonata No.5; Sonata No.6; Sonata No.9:

Arranged by Tim Risher

Brass quintet with keyboard

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Publisher: Wehr's Music House
Date of Publication: 1996
URL: http://www.wehrs-music-house.com

Primary Genre: Brass Ensemble - 5 brass
Secondary Genre: Chamber Music

Mathias Weckmann was one of the leading German composers of the late seventeenth century. A student of Heinrich Schütz, his ten chamber sonatas show the influence of both the English consort style and the Italian canzona style. Eight of them were originally for cornettino, violin, trombone or viola da gamba, and bombardo or bassoon and continuo. The other two are for the same instruments minus the bombardo or bassoon. It is especially a shame for trombonists that Weckmann's generation of composers is not better known today; much music exists with original trombone parts. 

Risher's reworking of these sonatas for brass quintet necessarily entails changes. Instead of four melody instruments, there are five. The tuba plays lower than any of the original instruments. There is some adjustment of ranges. Sonata No.9 is transcribed a step lower than the original, which necessitated changing some of the original figures in the continuo part. Much of this adjustment is explained in Risher's helpful notes.

The florid melodic lines cover a lot of ground. The first trumpet part in Sonata No.6 ascends an octave and a fifth from the first note of the first measure to the first note of the second measure. The ranges of all parts are wide, but not extreme. All parts trade rapid figures. Even the trombone must play thirty-second notes in an allegro movement and must play trills. The first trumpet part in sonatas 3 and 6 require E-flat trumpet. The fact that these quintets all require a keyboard instrument may cause additional difficulties in arranging rehearsals. Only expert ensembles with solid players on all parts should attempt these arrangements, but when played successfully, they will make an excellent impression.

-David Guion
University of North Carolina, Greensboro