Trout Scherzo (Percussion Ensemble Version)

General Info

Year of Published: 2012
Publisher: Tapspace
Composer: Franz Schubert
Arranger: Stephen Primatic
Difficulty: Intermediate
Duration: 00:04:45
Cost: $40.00

Instrumentation

Player 1: Glockenspiel
Player 2: Xylophone
Player 3: Vibraphone
Player 4: Marimba 1
Player 5: Marimba 2
Player 6: Marimba 3
Player 7: Marimba 4
Player 8: Timpani
Player 9: Tambourine
Player 10: Triangle
Player 11: Crash Cymbals
Player 12: Snare Drum
Player 13: Bass Drum

Description

Trout Scherzo is an arrangement by Stephen Primatic of the third movement from Schubert’s well-known piano quintet. Lively and joyful, the piece demands great dynamic control from all members of the ensemble. It also features a fast 3/4 tempo which is felt in “one.”

Reviews

Arrangements, adaptations, and transcriptions are a great way to learn about music history. In this lively movement from Franz Schubert’s “Piano Quintet in A Major,” Stephen Primatic’s arrangement allows for two choices in instrumentation. The first option, and my preferred medium, is performing the work as a mallet ensemble. Only requiring two mallets, this is a great opportunity to stress fundamental technique, tone production, and balance for younger students. The second option adds the remaining instruments listed above. My concern with this approach is that the added instruments will hinder the buoyant character of the movement. However, those with larger ensembles will welcome the additional options to keep all students involved. With the simplistic nature of the triangle, tambourine, bass drum, snare drum, and crash cymbal parts, you will need to constantly remind the students about balance and blend to keep them actively engaged.

Appropriate for a young high school ensemble, this work of approximately four minutes 45 seconds gets most of its duration from repeated sections. Consisting largely of quarter notes and longer, this work is in 3/4 and should be felt “in one.” While the keyboard and percussion parts are at an early intermediate level, the timpani part is a different story. Emphasizing mallet figures and supporting the bass line, the timpanist is required to make numerous tuning changes. I appreciate the clear notation, but it will take extra practice to ensure good intonation in this tonal piece.