Review

Arnold Schoenberg
Summer Morning By a Lake: Movement III from Five Pieces for Orchestra Op.16

Arranged by Jamie Wehr


Portland, ME, United States
Publisher: PP Music
Date of Publication: 1992

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 9+ trombones (choir)

Schoenberg’s Op.16 was suggested by Richard Strauss and is considered by musicologist Bryan Simms to be “one of the great masterpieces of the entire twentieth century.” This third movement, “Chord Colors,” is particularly noteworthy for its “changing orchestral tone colors [that] take on expressive meaning, often to the extent of diverting attention away from the development of motifs.” Given this crucial component of the composition, it is curious that noted composer and arranger Jamie Wehr has arranged this piece for two choirs of six trombones. Granted, choir B is instructed to use cardboard mutes throughout for sonic variety. However, the incredibly soft dynamics, pppp to mp, and the pedal notes in the bass trombone part present challenges that seem insurmountable from the outset. Meanwhile, the higher parts must match pitches and exchange entrances at a1 and above at these extreme dynamics, yet Schoenberg wrote the parts for different woodwind instruments, not a thoroughly homogenous ensemble. This piece is obviously worthy of study. This setting, however, complicates the process by filtering it through a medium that obscures the most crucial element of the orchestration, indeed, the entire goal of the movement.

-Joel Elias
Sacramento State University