March-Scherzo

From Wind Repertory Project
Camille Saint-Saëns

Camille Saint-Saëns (arr. Ted R. Marcus)

Subtitle: From Symphony No. 1

General Info

Year: 1853 / 2015
Duration: c. 5:00
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Ted R. Marcus
Cost: Score and Parts - $45.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Flute 1A and 1B (two solo players)
C Flute 2
Oboe 1-2
Bb Clarinet 1A and 1B (two solo players)
Bb Clarinet 2-3
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
Eb Contra-Alto Clarinet (optional alternate for String Bass)
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet (optional alternate for String Bass)
Bassoon 1-2
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
Bb Trumpet 1-2-3
Horn in F 1-2-3-4
Trombone 1-2-3
Euphonium (Bass Clef)
Baritone (Treble Clef)
Tuba
String Bass
Vibraphone
Marimba

Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Camille Saint-Saëns wrote his first published symphony in 1853. He was 17 years old, but he had already written a symphony two years earlier that was never published in his lifetime. A symphony at that time would normally include a scherzo, a fast-paced movement with three beats to the measure like a fast waltz, with a specific structure derived from the 18th century minuet.

Saint-Saëns' Symphony No. 1 doesn't have a scherzo. Instead, the second movement is titled (perhaps by the publisher) "March-Scherzo." It has two beats to the measure like a march, but it doesn’t have the structure of a march. Starting with an elegant melody, it surveys a range of emotions before dissolving into a quiet ending. It's really neither a march nor a scherzo, but something all its own.

I dedicate this band arrangement to the memory of my friend, Dr. Sean Davis. Sean was a brilliant, eccentric, and exuberant individual who, like the March-Scherzo, defies categorization. He died, at the age of 41, as I was just starting to work on this piece.

- Program note by Ted R. Marcus

Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Peninsula Symphonic Winds (Richard Babcock, conductor) - 21 May 2017


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

None discovered thus far.