Review

Reinhold Glière
Russian Sailor's Dance (from the ballet The Red Poppy): for Tuba (Bass trombone) and piano

Arranged by Ralph Sauer


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

Piano score and solo part

Primary Genre: Solo Bass/Contrabass Trombone - with piano

Master trombonist, artist, and prolific arranger Ralph Sauer has done it again: he has made it possible to play ALL of the melodies of Gliere's Russian Sailor's Dance for low brass. Ralph has published over 250 arrangements in the Cherry Classics catalogue (I got tired counting them). This arrangement has been published in the same key of a minor for tuba, bass trombone, trombone, and horn. It is very popular in the Cherry Classics catalogue: there is a brass quintet arrangement by Gordon Cherry, trombone quintet arrangement by Andrew Poirier, and a brass choir arrangement with timpani and percussion in G minor by Angus Armstrong.

Comparing the orchestral part with the tuba arrangement we see very few instances when the tuba plays melody. That is to be expected. Ralph has added all of the major melodies to the solo part to fill out the solo. It is much more fun!  For example, at measures 25, 86, 134, and 170 he has added the missing melodies. Beginning in measure 178 he added some challenging 16th note passages that will take a bit of work with a metronome to play in time.

This is a delightful recital work that gives low brass players an opportunity to actually play the "real" melody throughout.