Fantasy in French
General Info
Year: 2012
Duration: c. 6:00
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Musica Propria
Cost: Score and Parts - $110.00 | Score Only - $20.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra-Alto Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
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-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Harp
Piano
Timpani
Percussion, including:
- Bass Drum
- Chimes
- Crash Cymbals
- Marimba
- Orchestra Bells
- Suspended Cymbal
- Vibraphone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Fantasy in French is a musical collage comprised of several well-known works by French composers. The first task in a project of this nature is to choose which pieces one is going to use. Sometimes one selects works for their contrast to one other and how, together, they will provide good variety, flow and drive. In this case, Julie Giroux identified works that were technically and emotionally similar. Her ultimate goal was to take the five compositions listed below, mix them together, and present a piece that would sound like it was co-written by Saint-Saëns, Satie and Debussy.
The Fantasy in French begins with just such a musical portmanteau, presenting Debussy’s Syrinx melody on top of the chord progression from Erik Satie’s Gymnopedie No. 1, before slowly melting into the original opening phrases of Debussy’s Clair de Lune. In measure 28, we get a strong presentation of the Gymnopedie chord structure and melody, which serves as a counter-melody to Debussy’s Clair de Lune. Measure 37 finds the listener tossed back and forth from Clair de Lune to Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony. In measure 51, Clair de Lune is replaced with Saint-Saëns’ Aquarium. The piece ends with Clair de Lune by itself.
Camille Saint-Saëns - Carnival of the Animals, VII. Aquarium
Camille Saint-Saëns - Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78, “Organ Symphony”
Erik Satie - Gymnopedie No. 1
Claude Debussy - Suite bergamasque, L. 75, III. Clair de Lune
Claude Debussy - Syrinx, L. 129
Media
- Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
- Audio CD: Virginia Wind Symphony (Arnald D. Gabriel, conductor)
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Rutgers University (New Brunswick, N.J.) Symphonic Winds (Todd Nichols, conductor) - 25 February 2022
- Western Michigan (Muskegon) Concert Winds (Gail A. Brechting, conductor) – 2 May 2018 (ACB 2018 Annual Convention (Buffalo, N.Y.))
- San Jose Wind Symphony (Edward C. Harris, conductor) - 6 April 2013 (ACB’s 35th Annual Convention (San Ramon, Calif.))
- Virginia Wind Symphony (Hampton Roads) (Arnald D. Gabriel, conductor) – 21 December 2012 (2012 Midwest Clinic) *Premiere Performance*
Works for Winds by This Composer
Adaptable Music
- The Bonsai Tree (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
- Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1739/2020)
- I'll Be Home A-fore Ye (Flex instrumentation) (2003/2020)
- Market Bridge (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
- One Life Beautiful (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
- Opa! (Flex instrumentation) (2017/2020)
- Our Cast Aways (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
- A Time to Dance (2006) (Flex instrumentation) (2006/2020)
All Wind Works
- Across the Isle of Skye
- Af-free-kah! (2013)
- All Good Things (2003)
- All Through the Night (as arranger) (2011)
- Always (2019)
- Amaranthine (2008)
- Appalachian Portrait (2017)
- Arcus IX
- The Ash Grove (2019)
- Autumn Rose (2017)
- Away in a Manger (as arranger) (2011)
- Before the Sun (2013)
- Beyond Measure (2023)
- Beyond the Gates (2022)
- The Bench by the Sea (2017)
- The Blue Marble (2022)
- The Bonsai Tree (2010)
- Bookmarks from Japan (2013)
- Boston Liberties (2003)
- Burning the Wickerman (2020)
- Carnaval! (2013)
- Celestial Seas (2014)
- Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
- Chorale for Wind Band and Melodic Percussion (as arranger) (2015)
- Christmas and Sousa Forever (as arranger) (2010)
- Christmas Toons (2012)
- Christmas with Mozart (2007)
- Circus Franticus (2001)
- Córdoba (2013)
- Crown of Thorns (1998)
- Culloden (2000)
- Dragon Sky (2015)
- Dream Dancer (2005)
- The Elements. See: Symphony No. 5
- Empire (2006)
- An Epic Fanfare. See: Three Fanfares
- Fantasy in French (2012)
- Fields of Gold (2019)
- The First Noel (as arranger)
- Fort McHenry Suite (2000)
- Freedom Rising (2017)
- Glenbury Grove (2009)
- Glorious Light (2019)
- Godspeed (2023)
- The Grace in Being (2013)
- The Greatest Generation (2002)
- Hands of Mercy (2001)
- HardDrive (2010)
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1739/2020)
- Hark! Those Bells Are Smokin’ (2011)
- The Hearthstone (2016)
- Husaria Cavalry Overture (2006)
- Hymn for the Innocent (2016)
- I Got Rhythm for Christmas (2012)
- Il Burlone (2000)
- I'll Be Home A'fore Ye (2006)
- I'll Be Home A-fore Ye (Flex instrumentation) (2003/2020)
- I'll Be Home for Christmas (as arranger) (1943/)
- Imbizo (2007)
- Impressions (2013)
- In My Father's Eyes (2017)
- In the Bleak Midwinter (as arranger) (1906/2018)
- Incantations (2019)
- Integrity Fanfare and March
- Italian Rhapsody (2005)
- Jerusalem (as arranger)
- Jingle Them Bells (as arranger) (1857/2011)
- Journey Through Orion (2006)
- Just Flyin'! (2015)
- K2 (2012)
- Kalanu (2002)
- Khan (2008)
- La Mezquita de Córdoba (2005)
- Legacy (2011)
- Let Your Spirit Sing (2003)
- The Little Drummer Boy's Bolero
- The Little Sparrow
- Louisiana Parish Sketches (2001)
- Mambo Perro Loco (2008)
- March of the Sun Dried Tomatoes (2000)
- Market Bridge (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
- Medalist Fanfare (2013)
- Mile High (2023)
- Moonshine. See: Shine
- Movin' on Down the Line (2009)
- My Soul to Keep (2019)
- Mystery on Mena Mountain (1985)
- Mythic (2021)
- The Nature of the Beast (2001)
- Nearer, My God, To Thee (as arranger) (2010)
- Nihonbashi. See: Market Bridge
- No Finer Calling (2006)
- No Man's Land (2017)
- Nothing That Is (2000)
- Nutcracker Fantasia (as arranger) (1891/2012)
- O Holy Night (arr. Giroux) (1847/2011)
- Of Blood and Stone (2015)
- Of Silence and Sparrows (2022)
- One Life Beautiful (2010)
- One Life Beautiful (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
- One Torch, Two Women, Three Ships and Men Rejoicing (2011)
- Opa! (2018)
- Ouachita (1987)
- Our Cast Aways (2018)
- Our Cast Aways (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
- Outlander (2010)
- Overture in Five Flat (2010)
- Paprikash (2014)
- Peter Patapan (2011)
- Poseidon (2010)
- Primality 2006)
- Prisoner of the Ring (1986)
- Radiant Shadows (2016)
- Rain Softly on Me (2022)
- The Red Baron Drummer
- Riften Wed (2013)
- River Shannon (2020)
- Shadow Falls (2013)
- Shine (2017)
- Silent Night in Gotham (as arranger) (1818/2009)
- Space Symphony (1986/1991)
- The Speed of Heat (2010)
- Stealing Home (2016)
- A Stocking Full of Composers (2009)
- Strathcona Suite (2012)
- Sun Catcher (2022)
- Swashbuckler (2010)
- Symphony No. 1. See: Culloden
- Symphony No. 2. See: A Symphony of Fables
- Symphony No. 3. See: No Finer Calling
- Symphony No. 4. See: Bookmarks from Japan
- Symphony No. 5 (2017)
- Symphony No. 6. see: The Blue Marble
- A Symphony of Fables (2006)
- Taboo for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble
- Three Fanfares (2003)
- Three Wise Guys (2011)
- Tiger Tail March (2000)
- A Time to Dance (2006)
- To Walk with Wings (2000)
- Trillium
- The Twelve Days of Christmas (2012)
- The Twelve Gallon Hat (2013)
- Under the Influence (2022)
- Under the Willow (2015)
- A Very Merry Heart and Soul
- Vigils Keep (2005)
- Vortex (2015)
- Wagon Trail (2003)
- West Wind Overture (2012)
- What Child Is That Playing Carol of the Bells? (as arranger) (2011)
- What Goes in the Night (2000)
- When Country Comes to Town (2008)
- Where the Red Fern Grows (2016)
- Wild West Overture
- Winter from "The Four Seasons" (as arranger) (1725/)
- Without You
- Wolves in Moonlight (2019)
- Zephyr, Chorale and Dance (2012)
Resources
- Julie Giroux website Accessed 10 July 2021
- Perusal score