Scenes from a Comedy
General Info
Year: 2007
Duration: c. 8:30
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: de Haske
Cost: Score and Parts - €149.99 | Score Only - €31.50
Movements (played without pause)
1. Overture - 1:45
2. Harlequin's Entrance - 0:45
3. Harlequin and Columbine - 2:30
4. Finale and Peasants' Dance - 3:30
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet 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 Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:
- Bass Drum
- Glockenspiel
- Sleigh Bells
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Triangle
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
This piece represents scenes from an imaginary pantomime. Many styles and moods are portrayed in this fully orchestrated work.
- Program Note from publisher
This work has no specific programme, but represents scenes from an imaginary pantomime in the Commedia dell’Arte tradition. A fine work with many contrasts, from triumphal fanfares through tender waltzes to a peasants dance. This major new work for advanced concert bands is sure to become a much-performed item in your concert repertoire.
- Program Note from publisher
Commissioned by Musikverein Allschwil, Allschwil, Switzerland, to commemorate their 111th anniveray in 2006.
- Program Note from score
The composer did not intend a specific story behind a theatrical presentation, but considered major scenes from an imaginary pantomime in the Italian Commedia dell’Arte tradition. A short and engaging overture is followed by the introduction of a knavish Harlequin, a comic character usually represented in diamond-patterned multicolored tights, wearing a black mask. A solo clarinet represents his part in a tender waltz shared with his sweetheart Columbine, a beautiful servant girl, performed by the solo flute. The presentation finishes with a vibrant peasants’ dance with staccato passages characteristic of the fast footwork and swirling skirts of the dancers.
- Program Note by Roy Stahle for the Foothill Symphonic Winds
Media
- Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
- Audio CD:Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama Wind Orchestra (Bryan Allen, conductor)
State Ratings
- Texas: V. Complete
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Foothill Symphonic Winds (Los Altos, Calif.) (David Bruce Adams, conductor) - 8 December 2013
- North Carolina Central Wind Ensemble - 2013
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Atlantic Odyssey (2010)
- Bacchanalia (2019/2020)
- Ballad for Benny (2001)
- The Bandwagon (2004)
- Barn Dance and Cowboy Hymn (1985)
- Beethoven's Greeting (2008)
- Between the Two Rivers (2003)
- Big Sky Overture (2002)
- Blazon (2010)
- A Bluegrass Overture (2017)
- Bohemian Rhapsody (as arranger) (1975/2011)
- Bolero (as arranger) (1928/2011)
- Cambridge Intrada (2007)
- The Camelot Chronicles (2007)
- Carnival (1997)
- Carol of the Shepherds (2001)
- Celebration (1993)
- The Centurion (1988/2000)
- Chorale and Variations (2004)
- Clarinet Calypso (2003)
- Clarinet Concerto (2003)
- Colditz March (as arranger) (1972/2014)
- Colorado Springs (2007)
- A Colour Symphony (2015)
- Concert Prelude (1976/2000)
- Concertino Classico (2010)
- Dance Movements (1995)
- Dance of the Whale (2013/2014), from Bestiarium
- David of the White Rock (as arranger) (1741/2003)
- Deserts (2008)
- Diamond Concerto (2012)
- Diversions (1999)
- Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes (as arranger) (1790/2011)
- The Earl of Oxford's Marche (as arranger) (1581–91/2006)
- Earth, Water, Sun, Wind (2000)
- An English Sea Song Suite (2006)
- Euphonium Concerto No. 2 (2005)
- Exultation (2010)
- Fanfare for Saint Cecilia (2008)
- Fanfare, Romance and Finale (1990)
- Fantasy for Euphonium (1995)
- A Festive Tribute (J.S. Bach) (2007)
- Fiesta! (1998)
- Fiesta de la Vida (2005/2006)
- Five Festive Fanfares (2000)
- Flowerdale (2002/2010)
- Flying the Breeze (2002/2004)
- The Four Noble Truths (2003/2004)
- Four Norfolk Dances (2001)
- Gemini Concerto (2017/2019)
- Girl with the Flaxen Hair, The (as arranger) (1910/2007)
- Hail the Dragon! (2010)
- Harlequin (2004)
- Hanover Festival (2000)
- A Huntingdon Celebration (2003)
- In Memoriam: For the Fallen (2015)
- Infinity and Beyond... (2001)
- Invictus (2001)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (as arranger) (1723/2004)
- Jubilee Overture (1983)
- Jubiloso (2008/2009)
- A Klezmer Karnival (2004)
- The Land of the Long White Cloud (1980/1988)
- Letter from Home (2008)
- A Lindisfarne Rhapsody (1998)
- The Long Day Closes (as arranger) (1868/2007)
- MacArthur Park (as arranger) (1967/2005)
- Madrigalum (2006)
- Måndalen Landscapes (2004)
- Manhattan (2004)
- Marchissimo (2004)
- Mary's Boy Child (as arranger) (1956/2003)
- Masquerade (2003)
- Merry-Go-Round (2002)
- Morning Song (2002)
- Mountain Song (1990/1993)
- Music for a Festival (1985)
- Music of the Spheres (2004)
- Navigation Inn (2000)
- North Hills Fantasy (2021)
- Of Skies, Rivers, Lakes, and Mountains (2012/2013)
- Once in Royal David’s City (as arranger) (1849/2004)
- Orient Express (1987/1994)
- Out of the Darkness, Into the Light (2003)
- Overture for Woodwinds (2000)
- The Painted Desert (2004)
- Panis Angelicus (as arranger) (1872/2001)
- Pantomime (1988/1996)
- Pastime with Good Company (as arranger) (15--?/2005)
- Pentangle (2021)
- The Pioneers (2005)
- A Pittsburgh Overture (1992)
- Portrait of a City (2002)
- Postcard from Singapore (2004)
- Prelude to a Celebration (2007)
- A Quiet Moment (2007)
- Reflections (2011)
- Reflections on an Old Japanese Folk Song (2015)
- Rhythm and Blues (arr. Wheeler) (1986/2012)
- The Roaring Forties (2008)
- Sailing with the Tall Ships (2012)
- Salute to a Hero (2009)
- A Savannah Symphony (2010)
- Scenes from a Comedy (2007)
- The Seasons (2005)
- Shalom! (2001)
- Sierra Nevada (2006)
- Sinfonietta No. 1 (1990)
- Sinfonietta No. 2 (1992)
- Sinfonietta No. 3 (2001)
- Sinfonietta No. 4 (2012)
- Sinfonietta No. 5 (2021)
- Sleepers, Awake! (as transcriber) (1731/2002)
- Slipstream (1987/1990)
- Snow Valley Sleigh Ride (2007)
- Song and Dance (arr. Brand) (1984/2009)
- Song of Friendship (2017)
- The Song of the Bell (2012)
- Sounds of the Saint Lawrence (2008)
- Spirit of the Sequoia (2004)
- St. Paul's Suite (as arranger) (1912–13/2017)
- Strathcarron (2002)
- Suite from Hymn of the Highlands (2002)
- Summer Isles (2002/2006)
- The Sun Will Rise Again (2011)
- Sunrise at Angel's Gate (2001)
- Symphonic Metamorphosis (2007)
- Symphony No. 1. See: Earth, Water, Sun, Wind
- Symphony No. 2. See: A Savannah Symphony
- Symphony No. 3. See: A Colour Symphony
- Tales of the River Wye (2007)
- Tallis' Canon (arr. Sparke) (/2012)
- A Tameside Overture (1989)
- Te Deum Prelude (as arranger) (1688–98/2001)
- Ten Chorale Preludes (as arranger) (1914/2002)
- Theatre Music (1989)
- Three English Folk Song Miniatures (2013)
- Three Extraordinary Journeys (2006)
- Three Klezmer Miniatures (2009)
- Three Washington Statues (2015)
- To a New Dawn (2000)
- To a Wild Rose (as arranger) (1896/2002)
- Tokyo Triptych (2007)
- Trombone Concerto (2007)
- Tuba Concerto (2007)
- The Unknown Journey (2014)
- Valerius Variations (2005)
- Variations on a Fourth (2019/2022)
- Veni Immanuel (2003)
- Watch Your Step! (2017)
- A Weekend in New York (2008)
- The White Rose (2002)
- Wind in the Reeds (2017)
- Wilten Festival Overture (1999)
- A Winter's Tale (2010)
- Year of the Dragon (1984/1985)
- Year of the Dragon (2017 edition) (1984/1985/2017)
- A Yorkshire Overture (1991)
Resources
- [Sparke, P. (2007). Scenes from a Comedy: for concert band [score]. Anglo Music Press: Wembley, England.
- Perusal score (in Attachment)