Review


Sergei Rachmaninoff
Prelude in G minor Op.23 No.5:

Arranged by Kevin R. Dombrowski

Trombone choir 8-part trombone ensemble 6 tenor, 2 bass trombones (alt. contrabass)

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2022
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Score and parts.

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 8 trombones

Sergei Rachmaninoff, considered one of the greatest pianists of all time, included this composition in his collection of twenty-four ‘Preludes.’ These ‘Preludes’ were written between 1902-1903. Kevin R. Dombrowski, an experienced orchestral musician, has his MM Degree from Yale University and is currently the Adjunct Professor of Trombone at Valparaiso University. He also teaches throughout the Chicago area. He has written many arrangements for trombones and various brass ensembles.

This prelude was composed by a virtuoso pianist with extremely large hands and amazing technique. Writing for an 8 part ensemble easily solves the endurance, tension and technical problems dealing with a piece written for a virtuoso pianist. Perhaps these details come out more easily with eight trombone voices, as opposed to 10 fingers.

One major problem for the pianist is the multiple versions of articulations. Arranging for a trombone ensemble of many voices enhances performance of these subtle articulations: staccato, tenuto, accent, and their combinations. The crossing hands required to play inner voices in measures 41-49 are another problem solved by our ensemble.

While it is unfair to second guess such a strong musician and arranger as Kevin R. Dombrowski, I have a few ideas I suggest he consider: In measures 24 and 71 dovetail the 16ths by adding one more 16th on the third beat; in measure 50 he wisely left out the octave doubling in the bass-it would have been too loud and heavy at ppp. It might save rehearsal time to edit and weaken the bass line dynamics that are in octaves. A wise conductor should be able to balance the other instances throughout where the octave doubling in the bass, with pedal notes galore, could overwhelm the other parts. Red meat for bass trombonists!

Suggestions for more thought: (Un poco) meno mosso m.35:  I miss the 16th triplets in the left hand. It might be better to include an optional part for the four voices that are resting. It is a difficult choice and difficult to orchestrate. There are beautiful harmonies and lines that we miss without including these arpeggios.

Amazingly for such a complicated arrangement I could find only one correction: m.8 there is an E natural then E-flat in bass. There are many examples of tempo changes marked in the score that are missing in my piano score. As a major Late Romantic composition there are multiple recorded interpretations available, Horowitz as well as Rachmaninoff himself, so adding tempo and other changes actually work and are stylistic.

This is a professional level arrangement with extremely challenging high and low parts. It is suggested that the bottom part may be played on a contrabass trombone.  However, it is fun to play and worth the effort with the right balance oriented maestro!


Reviewer: Allan Kaplan
Review Published July 17, 2023