Au fond du temple saint

Georges Bizet

Subtitle: for Trombone Duet and Symphonic Winds from the Opera "The Pearl Fishers"

General Info

Year: 1863 / 2017
Duration: c. 6:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Orchestra and vocal duet
Publisher: William V. Johnson
Cost: Score and Parts (digital) - $20.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Solo Trombone I
Solo Trombone II
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Harp
Timpani

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Au fond du temple saint (At the back of the holy temple) is a duet from Georges Bizet's 1863 opera Les pêcheurs de perles, sung by Nadir (tenor) and Zurga (baritone) in act I. Generally known as "The Pearl Fishers' Duet", it is one of the best-known numbers in Western opera.

After a self-imposed absence, Nadir returns to the shores of Ceylon, where his friend Zurga has just been elected Fisher King by the local pearl fishermen. The two had once fallen in love with the same woman, but then vowed to renounce that love and remain true to each other. On meeting again, they sing this duet, remembering how they first fell in love/were fascinated with a veiled priestess of Brahma whom they saw passing through the adoring crowd.

This duet reappears at the end of the opera, but is sung in unison as the soprano Leila and the tenor Nadir declare their love which will transcend all their trials -- while Zurga sacrifices himself, knowing of their love, as he lets them flee to safety.

- Program note by William V. Johnson and Wikipedia

Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

San Luis Obispo (Calif.) Wind Orchestra (Jennifer Martin, conductor; Kensey Chellis and Rose Doylemason, trombones) – 24 March 2018 *Premiere Performance*

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Carmen Fantasy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Park) (1875/2017)
Children's Chorus from "Carmen Suite" (Adaptable Band) (arr. Fisher) (1875/2017)
Farandole from L'Arlésienne Suite No.2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Kataoka) (1872/2014)
Habañera (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (19875/2016)

All Wind Works

Adagietto (Brass Quintet) (arr. Hautvast)
Adagietto (Clarinet Quartet) (arr. Hautvast)
Adagietto (Saxophone Quartet) (arr. Hautvast)
Adagietto (Woodwind Quartet) (arr. Hautvast)
Adagio from Bizet Symphony (arr. Brand)
Andante (arr. Van Der Beek)
Au fond du temple saint (arr. Johnson) (1863/2017)
Carmen (tr. McAlister; ed. Reed) (1875/2000)
A Carmen Celebration (arr. Cacavas) (1875/2010)
Carmen Fantasia (arr. Hunsberger) (1875/2004)
Carmen Fantasy (arr. Ito) (1875/2009)
Carmen Fantasy (arr. Sostac) (1875/2011)
Carmen Fantasy (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Park) (1875/2017)
Carmen Fantasy (arr. Suzuki) (1875/2001)
Carmen Fantasy (arr. Tobani and Kent) (1875/1947)
Carmen: Habanera (arr. Zugrov) (1875/2015)
Carmen Highlights (arr. Williams) (1875)
Carmen Suite (arr. Bullock) (1875/1983)
Carmen Suite (arr. Guirard; tr. Buckley) (1875/2018)
Carmen Suite (arr. Holcombe and Holcombe Jr.) (1875/1998)
Carmen Suite (arr. Sheen) (1875/1991)
Carmen Symphony (tr. Serebrier; ed. Patterson) (1875)
Children's Chorus from "Carmen Suite" (Adaptable Band) (arr. Fisher) (1875/2017)
Duet from "The Pearl Fishers" (arr. de Meij) (1875/2016)
Farandole (arr. Bocook) (1872/2002)
Farandole (1872/1988)
Farandole (arr. Daehn) (1872)
Farandole (arr. Iasilli) (1872/1936)
Farandole from L'Arlésienne Suite No.2 (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Kataoka) (1872/2014)
Farandole (arr. Schaefer) (1872)
Farandole (arr. Longfield) (1872/1993)
Flower Song from “Carmen” (arr. Harding) (1875)
Gypsy Dance (arr. Reed) (1872/1997)
Habañera (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Stanton) (19875/2016)
Habañera from "Carmen" (trans. Odom) (1875)
Jeux d'enfants (arr. Di Scala)
Intermezzo (arr. Sharp) (1875/2002)
L’Arlésienne Suite No. 1 (arr. Finck) (1932)
L’Arlésienne Suite No. 1 (arr. Laurendeau) (1905)
L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2 (arr. Finck; tr. Duthoit) (1872/1932)
L’Arlésienne Suite No 2 (tr. C. Godfrey; ed. McAlister and Reed) (1872/2002)
L’Arlésienne Suite No. 2 (arr. Sorlin) (1872/2005)
Minisuite from Carmen (arr. Marlatt) (1875)
Minuet from "L’Arlésienne Suite" (arr. Walko) (1872/)
Music from Carmen (arr. Saucedo) (1875)
Open Thy Heart (arr. Glover) (1859/2014)
Overture to "The Pearl Fishers" (arr. Cailliet) (1863/1956)
Pastorale and Intermezzo (arr. Lake) (1924)
Petite Suite: Jeux d'Enfants (arr. Brand) (1871/1999)
Selections from Bizet’s Carmen
Selections from "Carmen" (arr. Dunnigan) (1875/2021)
Selections from "Carmen" (arr. Musser) (1875/1941)
Selections from "Carmen" (arr. Safranek) (1875/1912)
Selections from "Carmen" (arr. Sharp) (1875)
Selections from "The Pearl Fishers" (arr. Lake) (1875/1921)
Suite: Jeux d'Enfants (arr. Brand). See: Petite Suite: Jeux d'Enfants
Suite from "Carmen" (arr. Curnow) (1875)
Suite from "Carmen" (arr. D. Godfrey) (1875/1915)
Toreador Song (arr. Barnes) (1875/1988)
Toreador Song (arr. Barrow) (1875/1976)
Two Bizet Pieces (arr. Frackenpohl)
Votre Toast (arr. Cray) (1875)

Resources

Au fond du temple saint, Wikipedia Accessed 26 March 2018