Review

Franz Lehar
Dein ist mein ganzes Herz:

Arranged by Phil Brink


Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Publisher: Cherry Classics Music
Date of Publication: 2023
URL: http://www.cherryclassics.com

Piano score and solo part

Primary Genre: Solo Tenor Trombone - with piano

Dein ist mein ganzes Herz (You are my Heart’s Delight) is an aria from the 1929 operetta The Land of Smiles by Franz Lehár. It is a love song performed by the character Prince Sou-Chong. With sweet text like “where you are, I long to be; you make my darkness bright, when like a star you shine on me,” it is the most famous aria from the operetta.

Phil Brink’s arrangement for solo trombone or euphonium and piano accompaniment is in the key of D-flat major throughout. The tonal melody very closely follows the original. Its operatic style with rubato throughout is perfect for an expressive addition to a recital program. Most style terms are in Italian, but one is in German.

The solo part is entirely in bass clef and ranges from f to a-flat1. It is in ABA form. The opening begins with Allegro moderato in common time, and the B section is in compound time with some sixteenth-note runs. Most phrases are slurred and there are no mutes.

This solo is appropriate for advanced high school students and beyond. With several ritardandos, accelerandos, and fermatas, it will serve as a good piece for expression and rubato development. An intermediate player will also find good practice tuning fifth position and playing in the key of D-flat.