Nabucco Overture

Giuseppe Verdi

General Info

Year: 1842 / 1959
Duration: c. 8:05
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Orchestra
Publisher: Sam Fox
Cost: Score and Parts - Out of print.

For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Bass Saxophone
Horns in F I-II-III-IV
B-flat Cornet I-II-III
B-flat Trumpet
B-flat Flugelhorn I-II
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion (3 players), including:

Bass Drum
Crash Cymbals
Orchestral Bells
Snare Drum

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Nabucco, an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi, was given its premiere performance at La Scala in Milan on March 9, 1842. Its success proclaimed a new hero of the Italian opera, placing Verdi in the company of the masters, Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti. Melodies in the overture depict Verdi's affinity for fleeting tunes that seem to leave an indelible impression on the listener. The crescendo employed here, which builds over lengthy spaces, became known as the "Rossini Crescendo" and was a popular device of opera composers of the period

- Program Note from Program Notes for Band

Overture to Nabucco (1841) was first performed at La Scala in Milan in 1842. Verdi commented that "this is the opera with which my artistic career really begins. And though I had many difficulties to fight against, it is certain that Nabucco was born under a lucky star.”

The opera follows the plight of the Jews as they were assaulted, conquered, and subsequently exiled from their homeland by the Babylonian King Nabucco (Nebuchadnezzar). The historical events are used as background for a romantic and political plot.

- Program Note from Illinois State University Symphony Band concert program, 6 October 2016

Media

Audio CD: Texas A&M University Symphonic Band (Timothy Rhea, conductor) - 2005

State Ratings

Alabama: Class A
Arkansas: IV
Kansas: V
North Carolina: VI
Tennessee: V
Virginia: V

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Rollins College (Winter Park, Fla.) Wind Ensemble (Aaron Lefkowitz, conductor) - 22 November 2022
University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg) Concert Band (Travis Higa, conductor) - 7 March 2022
Illinois State University (Normal) Symphony Band (Dan Dietrich, conductor) – 6 October 2016
Tallahassee (Fla.) Winds (David Plack, conductor) – 27 September 2016
Russell County (Russell Springs, Ky.) Laker Band - 14 May 2015
San Luis Obispo (Calif.) Wind Orchestra (William V. Johnson, conductor) - 20 October 2007

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

Girsberger, Russ. Percussion Assignments for Band & Wind Ensemble: Volume 2 L-Z. Meredith Music Publications, 2004, pp. 320.
Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, pp. 610.
Verdi, G.; Cailliet, L. (1959). Nabucco: Overture [score]. Sam Fox: New York.