Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Scherzo
Movement 3 from Symphony No. 4 arranged for percussion ensemble by Eric Rath
Scherzo - Movement 3 from Symphony No. 4. By Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovksy, arranged by Eric Rath Š 2008 Tapspace Publications, LLC, Portland, OR. (ASCAP) All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Printed in USA. www.tapspace.com Notice of Liability: Any duplication, adaptation, or arrangement of this composition requires the written consent of the copyright owner. No part of this composition may be photocopied or reproduced in any way without permission. Unauthorized uses are an infringement of the U.S. Copyright act and are punishable by law. TSPCE-21
Program notes Much of Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony can easily be summed up by describing it as melancholy and even somewhat dark. But the Scherzo he wrote doesn’t at all fit with that description. Amidst a symphony that’s most present theme is ‘fate,’ the Scherzo is an interruption; a series of dreams that seem to have very little in common. The Scherzo is indeed an interruption not only from the symphony but contrasting from the life experiences Tchaikovsky had while writing it (he went into serious debt, was married then quickly divorced, was plagued with depression and even attempted to take his own life). In correspondence with his benefactor and to whom the symphony is dedicated, Madame Nadehzda von Meck, Tchaikovsky said that he had always wanted to write a piece of music in which the string section never once used their bows. From this germinating thought, comes several other contrasting musical vignettes. Chiefly among them, is the soft and staccato brass and timpani which are to sound like a distant band parading through the streets. The Scherzo is punctuated and varied; contrasting from the soaring melodies that typifies much of Tchaikovsky’s music. It is in this contrast and punctuation that the percussion ensemble sounds so at home. In the arrangement, as much contrast in the orchestration has been maintained to keep the integrity of the original: the marimbas mimic the pizzicato strings, the metallic instruments imitate the woodwinds and the brass family is represented by marimbas using “dead strokes.”
Performance notes At the heart of this arrangement is a marimba quintet. It is the focus of this arrangement so much that you may want to consider this when devising a set-up and planning rehearsals. It is highly recommended that the performers listen to an orchestral recording of the Scherzo to give them not only a better idea of the context of their part, but a better idea of how much contrast is necessary for an effective performance. If desired, the ensemble may observe a cut to shorten the overall length of the piece. Cutting from Measure 218 through 293 shortens the piece by a minute by removing repeated material originally stated in the opening. This cut does not interfere with the integrity of the original work and thus would be suitable to take in any performance or competitive setting. This arrangement was given two premieres: The first was in February 2008 by the Randall High School Percussion Ensemble (Amarillo, TX) under the direction of Eric Rath. The second was in April 2008 by the West Texas A&M University Percussion Ensemble (Canyon, TX) under the direction of Dr. Susan Martin Tariq.
Suggested setup
Small setup
Instrument/Parts list 1. Crotales 2. Chimes 3. Glockenspiel 4. Vibraphone 1 5. Vibraphone 2 6. Marimba 1 (4 octave)* 7. Marimba 2 (4 octave)* 8. Marimba 3 (4.3 octave - low A)* 9. Marimba 4 (4.3 octave - low A)* 10. Marimba 5 (5 octave - low C)† 11. Piano 12. Timpani (2 drums - 26”, 29”) * Marimbas 1 & 3 and Marimbas 2 & 4 can share a 4.3 octave instrument if needed. † In the absence of a 5 octave marimba, a 4.5 octave part (low F) is included.
Level - Medium Duration: approx. 4:30 - 5:30
Scherzo
Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky arranged by Eric Rath
Movement 3 from Symphony No. 4 Allegro
Chimes
Glockenspiel
q = 160
Crotales
Vibraphone 1
Vibraphone 2
Marimba 1
9
p
Marimba 2
Marimba 3
Marimba 4
Marimba 5
Timpani
p
p
p
p
Piano
© 2008 Tapspace Publications, LLC, Portland, OR (ASCAP). International copyright secured. All rights reserved.
Scherzo - arr. Rath
2
13
M1
M2
M3
M4
M5
17
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
25
25
M1
p
M2
p
M3
M4
33
p
p p p
p
TSPCE-21
p
M5
p
p
Scherzo - arr. Rath
M1 37
M2
M3
M4
M5
41
3
mf
mf
mf
M1
49
49
p
M2
p
M4
57
p
f
p
p
f
f
f
f
p
M5
p
p
M3
TSPCE-21
Scherzo - arr. Rath
4
65
61 M1
M2
M3
M4
M5
77
73
M1
p
p
M3
M4
M2
M5
TSPCE-21
p
p
p
Scherzo - arr. Rath
M1
85
85
M2
M3
M4
M5
91
5
f
p
f
p
f
p
f
p
p
f
f
f
f
f
f
97
M1
M2
M3
M4
M5
100
107
TSPCE-21
Scherzo - arr. Rath
6
109
M1
M2
M3
M4
M5
119
p
p
p
p
p
M1
126
121
M2
M3
M4
M5
TSPCE-21
pp
pp
pp
pp
pp
Scherzo - arr. Rath
7
133
G
V1
Meno mosso q = 110
133
M1
M5
P
p
f
f
f
M4
f
M3
mp
M2
f
V2
137
p
f
f
f
TSPCE-21
Scherzo - arr. Rath
8
145
149
145
G
V1
V2
M2
G
V1
V2
M2
153
f
P
mp
P
TSPCE-21
f
Scherzo - arr. Rath 163
Crot.
162
Chim.
G
ff
f
M4
M5
P
T
ff
poco rit.
ff
M3
ff
M1 M2
ff
V1 V2
9
ff
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Scherzo - arr. Rath
10
170
170
Crot.
Chim.
G
V1
V2
M1
M2
M3
Tempo I
no pedal
M5
T
pp
TSPCE-21
dead strokes
pp
dead strokes
pp
dead strokes
dead strokes
pp
P
pp
pp
M4
178
q = 160
simile
Scherzo - arr. Rath
182
Crot.
Chim.
G
V1
V2
M1
M2
M3
185
M5
T
M4
P
11
mf
p
mf
TSPCE-21
Scherzo - arr. Rath
12
194
194
Crot.
Chim.
198
V2
M1
V1
M2
M3
M4
M5
P
T
p
p
p
p
p
TSPCE-21
p
p
G
200
p
Scherzo - arr. Rath
Crot.
Chim.
G
V1 V2
M3
M4
M1 M2
210
206
13
loco
loco
dead strokes
loco
loco
M5
P
T
loco
TSPCE-21
Scherzo - arr. Rath
14
226
218
M1 p
M2
p
M3
M4
218
M5
p
p
p
234
M1
p
230
M2
M3
M4
M5
TSPCE-21
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
p
Scherzo - arr. Rath 242
242
M1
p
250
p
M3
p
M4
p
M2
p
p
p
M5
15
p
p
p
254 M1
M2
M3
M4
M5
mf
mf
mf
TSPCE-21
Scherzo - arr. Rath
16
266
M1
266
p
M2
p
M4
p
M5
p
f
p
p
f
f
f
282
278 M1
M2
M3
M4
M5
TSPCE-21
274
f
p
p
M3
Scherzo - arr. Rath 294
M1 290
M2
M3
M4
M5
p
p
p
p
p
M4
M3
M1
302
302
M2
17
308
p
f
f
p
f
f
p
f
M5
p
p
f
f
f
f
f
TSPCE-21
Scherzo - arr. Rath
18
M1 314
M2
M3
M4
M5
324
317
326
M2
M3
M4
M5
TSPCE-21
336
M1
p
p
p
p
p
Scherzo - arr. Rath
19
349
Crot.
338
Chim.
G
V1
V2
M1
M2
M3
M4
M5
P
343
pp
pp
pp
pp
pp
pp
pp
pp
pp
pp
pp
TSPCE-21
Scherzo - arr. Rath
20
350
Crot.
Chim.
G
V1
V2
M1
M2
M3
M4
M5
P
T
357
p
p
p
f
f
f
p
p
mf
mf
f
mf
mf
mf
f
f
f
pp
pp
pp
f
p
p
f
p
pp
p
p
pp
TSPCE-21
p
f
f
mf
Scherzo - arr. Rath
Crot.
G
M2
mf
M4
M5
P
T
f
f
f
f
f
f mf
mf
f
mf
f
mf M3
f
M1
f
V1 V2
373
365
362
Chim.
21
f
TSPCE-21
Scherzo - arr. Rath
22
379
Crot. 374
Chim.
V1
G
V2
M1
M2
M3
M4
M5
T
sub. p
sub. p
sub. p
sub. p
sub. p
sub. p
sub. p
sub. p
sub. p
TSPCE-21
sub. p
P
sub. p
Scherzo - arr. Rath
386
Crot.
Chim.
G
V1
V2
M1 M2
M3
M4
M5
P
T
387
ff
ff
ff
ff
ff
395
ff
23
ff
ff
ff
ff
ff
TSPCE-21
Scherzo - arr. Rath
24
399
398
Crot.
Chim.
407
M1
M2
M3
M4
mf
M5
P
T
mf
f
p
p
p
p
p
mf
TSPCE-21
f
mf
f
f
f
G V1 V2
pp
pp
pp
pp
pp
f
mf
Scherzo - arr. Rath
410
Crot.
Chim.
G
V1
V2
411
M1
M2
M3
M4
M5
P
T
25
TSPCE-21
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