Mixed Percussion B-Flat Tuba,B-Flat trombone,Baritone Horn TC/Euphonium,Bass Trombone,E-Flat Cornet,E-Flat Tenor Horn,E-Flat Tuba TC,Flugelhorn,Percussion 1,Percussion 2,Tenor Trombone - Level 3 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.1510871
Composed by Giacomo Puccini. Arranged by Rob Bushnell. 19th Century,20th Century,Classical,Opera,Romantic Period. Brass Band. 54 pages. Rob Bushnell #1086082. Published by Rob Bushnell (A0.1510871).
Tosca is an opera in three acts by the Italian composer Giacomo Puccini. The opera is set in June 1800 in Rome, and tells the story of the Kingdom of Naples and the threat to its control of Rome by Napoleon’s invasion of Italy. Some of Puccini’s best-known arias can be found in Tosca.
The opera is based on Victorien Sardou’s dramatic play of the same name (La Tosca). Puccini saw the play at least twice in 1889 and begged his publisher, Giulio Ricordi, to obtain the rights to turn it into an opera, which were secured in 1891 – although Puccini relinquished the rights to Alberto Franchetti before being recommissioned in 1895. Puccini wrote “I see in this Tosca the opera I need, with no overblown proportions, no elaborate spectacle, nor will it call for the usual excessive amount of music.” It took 4 years to write, with Puccini arguing with his librettists (Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa) and his publisher. Although the first performance was delayed by a day due to the unrest in Rome at the time, the opera was premiered on 14 January 1900 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome. The critics reviews were indifferent, but it was an immediate success with the public. The opera is through-composed, with the different musical elements weaved from piece to piece. Puccini used the Wagner’s leitmotif concept to identity different parts of the opera.
Taken from Act 3, E lucevan le stelle is sung by Cavaradossi, a painter, who has fallen for the singer Tosca. The corrupt Chief of Police, Baron Scarpia, longs for Tosca himself and, upon suspecting Cavaradossi of helping a political prisoner escape, he takes the opportunity to get rid of Cavaradossi and blackmail Tosca into being with him. The guards lead Cavaradossi to the roof of Castel Sant'Angelo, where he is told he has 1 hour to live before being executed. He asks to write a letter to Tosca, overcome by memories, he sings E lucevan le stelle (And the starts shone). It was selected by the tenor Wynne Evans as one of the most romantic songs for his top ten arias for Classic FM. He described it as “another tenor classic, both tragic and beautiful.”
This arrangement is for the UK-style brass band, with alternative parts for horns in F and bass-clef lower brass. A recording of the original song can be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAqHQMX7GHY.
Other searchable terms: Luciano Pavarotti.
