Minisuite (from Scheherazade): Trumpet & Keyboard Part(s)

David Marlatt's arrangement captures the swagger and lyricism of Rimsky-Korsakov's original orchestration without overwhelming young players. The trumpet gets to own these iconic melodies rather than share them, and the keyboard accompaniment is voiced to support without cluttering the solo line. It's the rare arrangement that feels both accessible and genuinely musical.

Exotic, grand, and surprisingly intimate all at once. These melodies evoke the wonder of Scheherazade's storytelling: moments of bold adventure give way to tender, almost wistful passages that let you sit inside the emotional weight of the narrative. The trumpet carries the full romantic sweep of the original.

Strong mid to late high school trumpet students ready to step into repertoire that demands musical maturity over extreme technical demands. This works equally well for contest preparation or a student recital, and it's engaging enough that serious young players won't feel they're playing down to their level.

• Shape the opening theme of The Sea and Sinbad's Ship with long, confident phrases; this is about maritime adventure, not technical display.
• Let the keyboard anchor the harmonic motion while you maintain legato through passages that might tempt you to separate. Rimsky-Korsakov's melodies sing best when they breathe as single statements.
• Balance lyricism with rhythmic clarity in The Young Prince and Princess section. These themes need warmth, but they also need forward motion.
• Check the accompaniment recording if available; hearing how the keyboard voice leads under your line clarifies the harmonic journey Rimsky-Korsakov plotted.

This works beautifully as a solo feature in a pops or chamber concert, or paired alongside other arrangements from orchestral literature to show students how masterworks translate across instruments. It's also strong contest material because judges immediately recognize the source and can focus entirely on how well the student executes Rimsky-Korsakov's memorable lines.

• Sustaining long, legato phrases with consistent tone across a wide range
• Playing with stylistic awareness of Romantic-era orchestral writing
• Balancing solo responsibility with keyboard accompaniment
• Shaping familiar, memorable melodies with appropriate rubato and phrasing
• Managing dynamic control without relying on technical facility to carry the music