Triumphal March from "Aida" (arr McAlister)
Giuseppe Verdi (arr. Clark McAlister; ed. Alfred Reed)
General Info
Year: 1871 / 2000
Duration: c. 4:00
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: LudwigMasters
Cost: Score and Parts - $80.00 | Score Only - $12.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Eb Clarinet (optional)
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet (optional)
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium I-II (Bass Clef & Treble Clef)
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion, including:
- Bass Drum
- Crash Cymbals
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Aida, Verdi’s grandest spectacle and one of the most popular operas ever written, was intended to celebrate the opening of the Suez Canal and the Cairo Grand Opera House in 1869. The premiere was delayed for almost two years, however, not only because of Verdi’s stringent demands but also because the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 made it impossible to ship the sumptuous costumes and sets to Cairo from Paris, where they were constructed. Terrified of sea voyages, Verdi refused to attend the brilliant premiere in Cairo on Christmas Eve 1871, but supervised the first Italian performances at Milan’s La Scala six weeks later.
Act II closes with a spectacular scene that includes the grand Triumphal March (“Glory to Egypt”), whose noble strains and majestic gait so inspired the Egyptian authorities that it was adopted as the national hymn of that country soon after the premiere. The Triumphal March is begun by musicians playing long trumpets leading the Egyptian troops into the city. Dancers follow, waving palms and banners, and the crowds sing a moving song of praise. More troops enter, bringing with them slaves bearing gifts for the gods, and the battle victor appears in a golden chariot. At the height of the celebration, he meets the Pharaoh, who steps down from his throne to embrace him.
-Program Notes by Elin Thomas for the Ohlone Concert Band
Aida, one of the most theatrically effective of all Verdi operas, was commissioned (for 150,000 francs) by the Khedive of Egypt in 1869 to celebrate the completion earlier that year of the Cairo Opera House and the Suez Canal. Numerous problems delayed the premiere, but it was finally presented in Cairo in 1871 to unanimous acclaim. Verdi did not attend the first performance, explaining that "it was his art and not he personally that was important."
With its constant excitement, dramatic action, and colorful pageantry, Aida can justifiably be called a "musical spectacle" -- particularly as presented before 25,000 opera lovers in the ancient arena at Verona, Italy.
This march, from scene two of the second act, presents the fanfare and splendor of the victorious army headed by Radames as it passes in review before the pharaoh.
-Program Notes from Program Notes for Band
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- San Luis Obispo (Calif.) Wind Orchestra (Brian Asher Alhadeff, conductor) - 31 May 2015
- Ohlone Concert Band (Fremont, Calif.) (Tony Clements, conductor) - 5 November 2014
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Adagio (arr. Hautvast)
- Ah! Fors e lui - Sempre Libera from "La Traviata" (arr. Barrow) (1973)
- Aïda: Prelude (arr. Hautvast) (/2010)
- Anvil Chorus (tr. McAlister and Graham) (1853/2008)
- Ave Maria volgarizzata da Dante (arr. Hartman) (1880/2019)
- Ballabili (arr. Van der Beek) (1847/1865/1997)
- Ballet Music from "Otello" (tr. Patterson) (1887/2003)
- Bolero from "The Sicilian Vespers" (tr. Sousa) (1855)
- Di Quella pira (arr. Hanna) (1853/)
- Dies Irae (arr. Bocook) (1874/1998)
- Excerpts from "Manzoni Requiem" (arr. Mollenhauer) (1869/1874/1965)
- Fanfare from "Requiem" (arr. Decker) (1874/1989)
- Il Balen del Suo Sorriso from "Il Trovatore" (arr. Brittain) (2009)
- La Battaglia di Legnano (arr. Kalischnig) (1986)
- La Forza del Destino (tr. Cesarini) (1862/1995)
- March from "Aida" (arr. Seredy) (1871/1898/1964)
- Nabucco (tr. Saurer) (1841/2004)
- Nabucco Overture (tr. Cailliet) (1842/1959)
- Overture to "Joan of Arc" (arr. Rollinson) (1845/1902)
- Overture to "La Forza del Destino" (arr. Lake and Hunt) (1862/1946)
- Overture to "La Forza del Destino" (arr. Odom) (1862)
- Overture to "La Forza del Destino" (arr. Patterson) (1862/2012)
- Overture to "La Forza del Destino" (arr. Rogers) (1862/1980)
- Overture: "La Forza del Destino" (arr. Suzuki) (1862/2017)
- Overture to "Luisa Miller" (arr. Pruyn) (1849/1988)
- Overture to "Nabucco" (tr. Cailliet) (1841/1959)
- Overture to "Nabucco" (arr. Neumann) (1841/2020)
- Overture to "Nabucco" (arr. Rhea) (1841)
- Prelude to Act I of "La Traviata" (ed. Falcone) (1853/1966)
- Requiem (tr. Patterson) (1874/2005)
- Rigoletto-Fantasie (arr. Goldhammer) (1851/2002)
- Triumphal March from "Aida" (arr. Evžen Zámečník) (1871)
- Triumphal March from "Aida" (arr. McAlister; ed. Reed) (1871)
- Triumphal March from "Aida" (arr. Richard) (1871/2012)
Resources
- Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, pp. 610.
- Verdi, G.; McAlister, C.; Reed, A. (2000). Triumphal March : From Aida [score]. Masters Music: Boca Raton, Fla.