Carmen Symphony

Georges Bizet

Georges Bizet (arr. José Serebrier; ed. Donald Patterson)

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Subtitle: In Twelve Scenes

General Info

Year: 1875 / 2009
Duration: c. 34:10
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts - $395.00 | Score Only - $50.00

Movements

1. Prelude – 3:30
2. The Cavalry – 4:00
3. Habanera – 2:10
4. Seguidilla
5. Fugato – 1:55
6. Interlude I – 1:35
7. Toreador – 2:25
8. Interlude II – 2:40
9. Andante Cantabile – 3:40
10. Interlude III – 2:20
11. The Wedding – 1:20
12. Gypsy Dance – 5:15

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Solo Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra-Alto 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
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Harp A-B
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III

(percussion detail desired)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Carmen became Bizet’s most celebrated work, although the premiere at the Opéra Comique in Paris on March 3, 1875, was greeted by silence from its charter audience. Bizet died three months later, believing that his last opera had completely failed. By featuring smugglers, gypsies, factory girls, corporals, and cigarette smokers, Carmen violated the chastity and lightweight fare of the typical Opéra Comique productions. Despite its initial critiques, the quality of the music and the international “soap opera” appeal -- a tangled relationship amongst the beautiful, seductive Carmen, the army corporal Don José, and the famous matador Escamillo -- have continued to promote the work. Bizet’s portrayal of Spanish life and music, and his understanding of the gypsies is instinctive and real. Upon hearing it in Paris, Pytor Ilyich Tschaikowsky announced, "In a few years Carmen will be the most popular opera in the world." With the 1875 Vienna production, just months after the disastrous Paris premiere, Carmen was on its way to fulfilling Tchaikovsky's prediction. Other major composers of Bizet’s era who praised Carmen were Brahms, Wagner, and Ravel.

Jose Serebrier’s sequence of orchestral interludes from Carmen extends its magic to the concert hall. Carmen Symphony, unlike other well-known Carmen suites, follows the dramatic thread of the opera.

- Program Note from University of Texas Wind Symphony concert program, 22 February 2017

Media

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State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Christopher Newport University (Newport News, Va.) Wind Ensemble (Mark U. Reimer, conductor) - 13 March 2022
James Madison University (Harrisonburg, Va.) Wind Symphony (Stephen Bolstad, conductor) – 26 April 2018
United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Ryan J. Nowlin, conductor; Sara Sheffield, mezzo-soprano) – 25 March 2018
Butler University (Indianapolis, Ind.) Wind Ensemble (Michael Colburn, conductor) – 28 September 2017
Allegheny College (Penn.) Band Camp for Adult Musicians (Michael Colburn, conductor) – 30 June 2017
University of Texas (Austin) Wind Symphony (Scott Hanna, conductor) – 22 February 2017
Troy (Ala.) University Symphony Band (Mark J. Walker, Brian O. Walden, John Carnahan, Michael Nakasone and Johnnie Vinson, conductors) – 5 March 2014 (ABA 2014 Annual Convention (Montgomery, Alabama))
Baden-Wüttemberg (Germany) Youth Wind Orchestra and The Philharmonic Winds (Felix Hauswirth, conductor) – 5 September 2012

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

Bizet, G.; Serebrier, J.; Patterson, D. (2004). Carmen Symphony: In Twelve Scenes [score]. Hal Leonard: Milwaukee.