Review

Richard Wagner
Wagner for 5 Bones: Music from Wagner’s “Ring des Nibelungen”:

Arranged by Ben van Dijk

three tenor trombones, bass trombone, and contrabass trombone

Dan Haag, , Netherlands
Publisher: BVD Music Productions
Date of Publication: 2005
URL: http://www.basstrombone.nl

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 5 trombones

Any excuse to play Wagner on trombone is welcome, even if the arrangement is short, less than 100 measures, and lights briefly upon eight motifs; one is two measures long, from operas that, as a complete cycle, encompass double digit hours of listening. Fortunately, Van Dijk has done a masterful job of capturing many of Wagner’s harmonic intricacies and distributing the motivic interplay among what is essentially a large orchestral trombone section.

Still, the result is the musical equivalent of a see-Germany-in-one-day tour. This small and only temporarily filling serving is designed to be played and enjoyed by trombonists but probably not to be heard by the public at large. Not surprisingly, the setting is a showcase for the contrabass trombone, of which Mr. Van Dijk of the Rotterdam Philharmonic is one of the world’s most talented practitioners. The part can also be played on bass trombone, provided the player comes equipped with a fortissimo DD. This miniaturized epiphany will be represented on an upcoming Van Dijk recording, “Melody,” which is eagerly awaited.

-Joel Elias
Sacramento State University