Review

Gustav Holst
Jupiter from "The Planets":

Arranged by Randall Malmstrom

Octet: 6 tenor, 2 bass trombones

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

Score and parts

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 8 trombones

Long considered to be the most famous movement of Gustav Holst’s most famous work, Jupiter from “The Planets” has been delighting audiences ever since its premiere in September of 1918 during the final weeks of the First World War. Randall Malmstrom’s setting of Jupiter for trombone ensemble follows measure for measure both the form and key structure of the orchestral version. This creates a transcription that is both intricate and fun to play.

There are many balance issues inherent in arranging an orchestral work like this for trombone ensemble. For example, the original opens with sixteenth note passagework in the upper strings and melodic figures doubled in the horns and lower strings. When played on trombones, the melodic figures end up being played only in a single trombone part while the rest of the trombones play the passagework. Great trombone ensembles will certainly work quite hard to achieve the right balance; lesser ensembles may struggle to do so.

While the highest tenor trombone parts only play up to c², the faithfulness to the original version leads the lower bass trombone part to cover what was originally a tuba part that played down to DD-sharp. While many advanced players will surely enjoy the challenge of playing these passages, Malmstrom’s arrangement will likely prove in some ways to be too difficult for many intermediate trombone ensembles that might otherwise have gravitated to this music.

Most importantly, this transcription of Jupiter has been written quite idiomatically for trombones. The harmonies are well voiced, and nothing feels empty or missing. With the right players, it will surely be a crowd pleaser.