Review

Johannes Brahms
Five Secular Songs:

Arranged by James Bates

3 tenor, 1 bass trombone

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2020
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 4 trombones

Mr. James Bates has crafted these five arrangements of Brahms songs for trombone quartet, which will make a satisfying addition to any concert. Three of these songs are from what we might think of as Brahms’ middle period; two are from his later years.

 	
Waldesnacht, Op.62, No.3 [Wondrous cool] is taken from the set of seven songs for mixed voices. It has been transposed from the D major of the original to A-flat major. It celebrates the quiet and calm and the “wondrous cool” of the forest in comparison with the “uproarious tumult” of the world.
 	
Dein Herzlein Mild, Op.62, No.4 [Your Gentle Heart] is taken down from its original A major to D major. It reflects on the “Gentle heart” of another at the outset of a loving relationship.
 	
Vergangen ist mir Glück und Heil, Op.62, No.7 [Gone is my Happiness and Well-being] is taken down a major sixth from A minor to C minor: in addition, the rhythmic values are reduced by one half. This song treats the sadness and pain of departure from the loved one.
 	
Fahr wohl!, Op.93a, No.4 [Safe travels!] is taken down a minor sixth, from A-flat major to C major. This song, the first of the two late period songs, bids farewell to first a bird, then a leaf as it falls, finally to life itself. Its tempo is marked as Sanft bewegt und sehr ausdrucksvoll [Softly moving and very expressive].
 	
Der Falke, Op.93a, No.5 [The Falcon] is lowered a fifth. This last song uses the falcon to personify the lover singing to a beautiful maiden. It is marked Lebhaft [Lively] and is the only song of this set with a lively disposition.

These songs are a beautiful introduction to late Romantic style and a great way to focus on expressive playing, a fine work of transcription – congratulations!