Chal Romano

Albert Ketèlbey

Subtitle: (Gipsy Lad.) Descriptive Overture

General Info

Year: 1924
Duration: c. 8:30
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Orchestra
Publisher: Bosworth & Co.
Cost: Score and Parts – Out of print.

For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.

Instrumentation

Condensed Score
D-flat Piccolo/D Flute
C Piccolo/Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet Solo-I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II-III
B-flat Trumpet
E-flat Horn or Alto I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Baritone
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Bass Drum
Crash Cymbals
Orchestra Bells
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine
Triangle

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

This "Descriptive Overture", dating from 1924, provides a good demonstration of Ketèlbey's work within what may be perceived as more 'formal' structures than those adopted for his pictorial miniatures. The melodic invention is, in truth, undistinguished but it is handled with undeniable skill and displays all the hallmarks of an artist who knows how to draw the best from an orchestra.

A detailed synopsis prefaces the score as follows: "This Overture opens with a broad theme in the style of a Gipsy Folk-Song of strongly marked character. A plaintive melody which follows (given to clarinet and oboe) suggests the sadness of the rejected lover; the key changes to the Tonic major and the melody develops into a passionate Love-theme. The Gipsy Folk-Song, suggesting Fate, interrupts the conclusion of the Love-theme and leads into a dance tune first played by violin solo and then developed at some length, descriptive of the light-hearted nature of the Gipsy Girl; the Love-theme is now heard again (in a quicker tempo than originally) with scraps from the girl's dance tune interwoven with it. A kind of recitative for cellos suggests the lover pleading with the girl, but the Gipsy Folk-Song heard immediately after, expresses the hopelessness of his appeal, and she dances away to join the Gipsy Revels which (with a final ff reference to the Gipsy Folk-Song just before the end) brings the Overture to a conclusion".

- Program Note from liner notes of Marco Polo CD Albert Ketèlbey

Mediay

Audio CD: Slovak Philharmonic Male Chorus - 1993

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

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Works for Winds by This Composer

Bells Across the Meadows (arr. Godfrey) (1923
Chal Romano (1924)
In a Chinese Temple Garden (1923)
In a Monastery Garden (arr. J. Ord Hume) (1915/1920)
In a Monastery Garden (arr. Musser; ed. Rapp) (1915/2009)
In a Persian Market (1920)
In the Mystic Land of Egypt (1931)
Mayfair Cinderella, A
With Honour Crowned (1935)

Resources

Ketèlbey, A. (1924). Chal Romano = Gipsy Lad: Descriptive Overture [score]. Bosworth & Co.: London?.