Fantastique

Tyler Harrison

General Info

Year: 2014 / 2017
Duration: c. 5:20
Difficulty: IV+ (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Tyler Harrison
Cost: Score and Parts (digital) - $129.00 | Score Only (digital) - $79.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass 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
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V, including:

Bass Drum
Glockenspiel
Marimba
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine
Tam-tam
Tom-toms (4)
Tubular Bells
Vibraphone
Whip
Wood Block (high)
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Fantastique is a comic piece making fun of Symphonie Fantastique by Hector Berlioz. For the record, I actually like the parts of Symphonie Fantastique to a point. The second and fourth movements work very well, and the March of the Scaffold has its place in the repertoire for good reason.

Once I hear the Dies Irae in a composition, I must admit I’m done listening. Granted, the quote was used with greater ingenuity by Rachmaninoff in the Symphonic Dances and lesser ingenuity by Michael Daugherty in the Metropolis Symphony. That being said, the way it is used in Symphonie Fantastique as the accompaniment to a demon orgy is worthy of derision. In the words of Rossini after hearing the Berlioz, “It’s good this isn’t considered actual music.”

Fantastique is lovingly dedicated to my friend and mentor, Carter Pann, whose legendary wit and charm inspired its creation.

- Program Note by composer

Media

Audio: Reference recording. MIDI realization

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Contra Costa Wind Symphony (Walnut Creek, Calif.) (Brad Hogarth, conductor) - 24 October 2021

Works for Winds by This Composer

Bay Bridge Breeze (2019)
Como Canons. See: Symphony No. 2
Concerto for Piano, Winds and Percussion (2012)
Fantastique (2014/2017)
Scenes from the Bitterroot (2020)
Symphony for Wind Ensemble (2017)
Symphony No. 2 (2021)
- Como Canons (2021)
Symphony No. 3 "The Garden of Tears" (2023)

Resources

Perusal score
Tyler Harrison, personal correspondence, October 2021
Tyler Harrison website Accessed 22 October 2021