Roman Carnival Overture (arr Godrey)

Hector Berlioz

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This work bears the designation Opus 9.

General Info

Year: 1838 / 1844 / 1902
Duration:
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Orchestra
Publisher: Masters Music
Cost: Score and Parts – Out of print.

For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.

Instrumentation

Full Score
D-flat Piccolo/Flute
E-flat Piccolo/Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Ripiano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Soprano Clarinet Solo-I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Cornet I-II
E-flat Trumpet
B-flat Trumpet
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Percussion

(percussion detail desired)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

This overture is based on themes taken from Berlioz's unsuccessful opera Benvenuto Cellini (1838). The opening salterello (fast Italian dance) from act two and Cellini's andante love theme from act one are two of the prominently featured melodies. The overture was premiered in Paris in 1844, with Berlioz conducting, and so pleased the crowd it had to be repeated. It is still very popular.

- Program Note from Program Notes for Band

The overture is a stand-alone concert piece for symphony orchestra but is made up of material and themes from Berlioz's first opera, the technically challenging and rarely performed Benvenuto Cellini. The opera on which this overture is based was born of inspiration garnered from two years of study in Italy. This sojourn was a result of Berlioz's winning the prestigious Prix de Rome, a French scholarship for students of the arts, including categories in painting, sculpture, architecture, engraving, and musical composition. The prize included a five-year stipend and required the winner to spend two years studying in Italy. It is our good fortune that Berlioz took the lovely melodies of the opera and made a condensed version of sorts in the Le carnival romain, else some very lovely melodies might be lost to obscurity.

- Program Note by Matthew Cohen for Open Call

Media

Audio CD: Capital City Community Band (Tom Brawner, conductor) - 2007
Audio CD: Tara Winds (David Gregory, conductor) – 2001

State Ratings

Georgia: VI
Louisiana: V
Maryland: VI
Texas: V. Complete
Virginia: VI

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

United States Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Jason K. Fettig, conductor) – 31 October 2018 (Pickerington, Ohio)
Michigan State University (East Lansing) Symphony Band (John T. Madden, conductor) – 2 February 2016
Frankfort (Ky.) Capital City Community Band (Tom Brawner, conductor) – 20 December 2007 (2007 Midwest Clinic)
Tara Winds (Hampton, Ga.) (David Gregory, conductor) – 21 December 2001 (2001 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Apothéose from "Grande Symphonie Funèbre et Triomphale" (tr. McMahan) (1840/2014)
A Ball. See: Un Bal
Benvenut Cellini (arr. Henning) (1937)
Overture to "Béatrice et Bénédict" (trans. Henning) (1862/1937)
Damnation of Faust (arr. Smith) (1957)
Dream of a Witches' Sabbath (tr. Patterson) (1830)
Dream of a Witches' Sabbath from "Symphonie Fantastique" (arr. Rogers) (1830/1995)
Le Carnaval Romain (arr. Van Grevenbroek) (1844/?)
Le Carnaval Romain (arr. Van Mever) (1844/1961)
Le Corsaire (tr. Schuller) (1856/1971)
Le Corsaire Overture (tr. Beeler) (1856/)
Les Francs-juges, Opus 3 (arr. Knox)
Grande Symphonie Funèbre et Triomphale (1840)
Grande Symphonie Funèbre et Triomphale (ed. Dondeyne) (1840)
Grande Symphonie Funèbre et Triomphale (ed. Elkus) (1840)
Grande Symphonie Funèbre et Triomphale (tr. Inkster) (1840/2015)
Grande Symphonie Funèbre et Triomphale (arr. Whitwell) (1840/1973)
March to the Scaffold (arr. Brown and Foulds) (1830/1937)
March to the Scaffold (arr. Custer) (1830/1996)
March to the Scaffold (tr. Gardner) (1830/1963)
March to the Scaffold (tr. Leidzén) (1830/1937)
March to the Scaffold from "Symphonie Fantastique" (tr. Patterson) (1830/2005)
March to the Scaffold from "Symphonie Fantastique" (tr. Rogers) (1830/1995)
Marche Hongroise (arr. Goto) (1820/1846/1986)
Marche Hongroise (arr. Smith) (1820/1846/1961)
Ouverture du Carnaval Romain (tr. Nefs) (1838/1844/2013)
Rakoczy March. See: Marche Hongroise
Roman Carnival Overture (arr. Godfrey) (1838/1844/1962)
Roman Carnival Overture (tr. Kreines) (1838/1844/)
Roman Carnival Overture (arr. Van Grevenbroek). See: Le Carnaval Romain
Roman Carnival Overture (arr. Van Mever). See: Le Carnaval Romain
Roman Carnival Overture (tr. Nefs). See: Ouverture du Carnaval Romain
Roman Carnival Overture (tr. Patterson) (1838/1844/)
Roman Carnival Overture (arr. Safranek) (1838/1844/1962)
Roman Carnival Overture (arr. Singleton) (1838/1844/2000)
Royal Hunt and Storm (arr. Boyd) (1966)
Scaff! (arr. Wheeler) (2016)
Suite from "Symphonie Fantastique" (arr. Story) (1830/2016)
Symphonie Fantastique (arr. Foulds) (1830/1937)
Symphonie Fantastique (tr. Parès) (1830/)
Symphonie Fantastique: IV. March to the Scaffold (tr. VanDoren) (1830/2021)
Symphonie Fantastique (arr. Yodo) (1830)
Trojan March (arr. Erickson) (1971)
Un Bal (arr. Rogers) (1830/1995)

Resources

Berlioz, H.; White, M.; Godfrey, D. (1902). Le Carnaval Romain : Overture = The Roman Carnival [score]. Chappell and Co.: London.
Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Hector Berlioz." Accessed 2 January 2015.
Open Call, KCET Accessed 24 January 2016
Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, pp. 62.