David Fisher - Carnival des Animaux [an arrangement for brass ensemble of three movements]

Carnival des Animaux [an arrangement for brass ensemble of three movements]

Instrumentation

3 Trumpets, French Horn, 2 Trombones, Bass Trombone, Tuba

Recording, download - 3.70MB

Other Information

These three movements from Carnival des Animaux by Saint Säens for brass octet [the same scoring as Viva Italia] were written for the Leicestershire Schools’ Symphony Orchestra Brass Ensemble in 1981 and performed many times since.

The three movements are: "Royal March of the Lion" [0:00] - without its introduction, "The Elephant" [1:24] and "Fossils" [2:32]. "The Elephant" is dedicated to Ken Ferguson and "Fossils" to Martin Axe with the whole work written for all the amazingly brilliant brass players [with two of their friends] at King Edward VII College at the time: Darryl Bonser, David Blackadder, Darron Moore, Martin Axe, Simon ["Jerry"] BaumKevin Morgan, Pete Smith and Ken Ferguson. These movements were recorded in Q Studios, Leicestershire in 1982.

Though only arrangements, I took the opportunity to emphasise the skills and brilliance of my student players at the time - most of who went on to tremendously successful careers in music.