Review

Gustav Holst
Saturn from "The Planets":

Arranged by Randall Malmstrom

8-part Trombone Ensemble: 1 alto trombone, 5 tenor, 2 bass trombones

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2021
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 8 trombones

Of all the movements from Gustav Holst’s “The Planets,” Saturn was the composer’s favorite. While probably not as popular as the more energetic movements such as Jupiter or Mars, Holst once described Saturn as a “a slow processional which rises to a frightening climax before fading away as if into the outer reaches of space.” Randall Malmstrom’s setting of Saturn for trombone ensemble is an abridged arrangement of the orchestral version that omits many of the quieter parts of the movement, including the introduction. While this creates a work that is shorter, less taxing, and more suitable for brass, it also loses a significant degree of dramatic impact that characterizes the movement.

While written idiomatically for trombones, the range requirements here may pose a challenge to inexperienced ensembles. The highest part is scored for alto trombone and extends up to e-flat². The lowest two parts are both written for bass trombone. While the lower of the two parts extends down to EE and most definitely needs to be played on bass trombone, the higher of the two bass trombone parts could probably be managed on tenor trombone with F-attachment. All the tenor trombone parts have extensive sections written in the tenor clef, so if not everyone in the ensemble is fluent with reading tenor clef this arrangement might not be a good choice.

Most importantly, Malmstrom’s transcription of Saturn is well scored for trombones, will be fun to play, and should serve as a good opportunity to expose the ensemble to a staple of the orchestral literature.