Solo Title: Romanza Appassionata (Romance)
Composer and Arranger: Carl Maria Von Weber (1786-1826) / P.X. Laube
Publisher Code: Cundy-Bettoney Co. / Carl Fischer, Inc. CU1250 [1]
Date Published: 1943
Clef: Bass
Purchase Link: Sheet Music Plus
Recording: Christian Lindberg, The Romantic Trombone, BIS Records
It is unknown if Romanza Appassionata was originally written for trombone. Composed during the Romantic Era, this arrangement stretches the performer to have strength in lyricism while creating a dramatic, sustained sound. Throughout the solo, various changes occur between minor and major modes that allow the soloist to stretch the tempo and perform in a free, yet controlled manner. Depending on the edition, the soloist will be challenged to play large intervallic leaps in the first 25 measures. This solo also can introduce the practice of ornamentation as smaller 32nd notes lead to longer high notes.
| Movements and Tempo Markings | Duration | |||||||
| Andante Sostenuto (76-108 bpm) | 8' | |||||||
| Organization’s Class and Grade Levels | FMEA | ISSMA | ITA | NYSSMA | OMEA | PMEA | UIL | |
| (What is This?) | 5 | Yes (Bass) | 4 | NL | B | NL | 1 | |
| Grading Points Scale | Level | Total Points | Range | Rhythm | Tempo | Duration | Bonus | |
| (What is This?) | - | - | F2 to A4 | 16th | 92 bpm | 8' | Ornamentation, Interval Jump |
|
| 4 (3.9) | 19.5 | 2.5 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 2 | ||
- While the primary edition on several state lists is the Cundy-Bettoney edition, this work contains many errors, such as missing bar lines, wrong notes, and total beats per measure. A more trusted edition titled Romance is published by Kalmus Classic Edition and is listed on the ISSMA solo list. The Kalmus edition would certainly increase the difficulty level of this solo as it contains trills, 32nd notes, lower notes, such as C2, which would require an F-attachment trombone. In addition, some state solo lists mark the Kalmus edition as a bass trombone solo, due to the lower notes.