Review

Maurice Ravel
Vocalise-étude (en forme de habanera): arranged for trombone and piano

Arranged by Ralph Sauer

arranged for trombone and piano

Vancouver, BC, , Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2015
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

Ravel wrote his sensuous Vocalise for bass voice and piano in 1907. It was also in 1907-08 that he orchestrated his Habanera for two pianos (1895) as one of the movements in Rhapsodie espagnole. The Vocalise has been arranged for a number of solo instruments, and now this version for trombone has been aptly done by Mr. Sauer. It adheres to the original while making some passages more idiomatic for trombone: he replaces two of the trills with thirty-second note figures where the middle register does not allow for good trills. At the end, however, he leaves the lovely trill on g1 as is. This arrangement is clearly notated entirely in tenor clef and is quite playable for the advanced soloist. The range is c to a1. The challenge lies in the trombonist’s ability to create a fluid, legato line and use imaginative and well-placed rubato. It is a great opportunity for the soloist to demonstrate espressivo playing.