Iain Farrington

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  • Home
  • Biography
  • Arrangements
    • Chamber Orchestra
    • Symphony Orchestra
    • Chamber Music
    • Choral and Vocal
    • Piano/Organ
    • Opera
    • Songs
    • Piano reductions
    • Elgar Complete Edition
    • List of orchestral performers
  • Compositions
    • Orchestra
    • Piano
    • Organ
    • Chamber
    • Vocal & Choral
  • Pianist
    • London 2012 Olympics
    • Mahler Piano Series
  • Organist
  • Art Deco Trio
  • Recordings
  • Diary
  • Contact
Picture
Camille Saint-Saëns - The Carnival of the Animals
for 2 or 4 Piano Soloists and Symphony Orchestra

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) composed his popular work Le carnaval des animaux in 1886 for a private concert. He would not allow publication of the work until after his death, other than the cello solo ‘The Swan’.
This was perhaps partly to protect his image as a serious composer, but also because of the numerous quotes of contemporary composers, poking fun at their music. The original piece was for a chamber group of eleven players. This arrangement is for a full scale symphony orchestra, with optional enlarged piano parts for two extra soloists. To allow a continuous flow between the movements, there are newly composed short linking passages, based on the existing material by Saint-Saëns.

Movements:

Introduction
Royal March of the Lion
Wild Asses
Kangaroos
Aquarium
Pianists
Fossils
The Swan
Finale

Instrumentation: 2 pianos (2 or 4 soloists), 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, strings

Performed on 15th July 2018 at the BBC Proms, Royal Albert Hall, BBC Concert Orchestra, Andrew Gourlay (conductor). Piano soloists: Martin James Bartlett, Freddy Kempf, Lara Melda, Lauren Zhang.

Listen to a performance of this arrangement:

​Carnival of the Animals (15'43)

Watch a performance here:
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