Concert Band - Level 3 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.549996
Composed by Camille Saint-Saens. Arranged by James M. Guthrie. Romantic Period,Standards. 118 pages. Jmsgu3 #4366268. Published by jmsgu3 (A0.549996).
Full-length arrangement for Concert Band. Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 1 oboe, 2 Bb clarinets, 1 bass clarinet, 2 alto saxes, 1 tenor sax, 1 baritone sax, 2 Bb trumpets, 2 horns in F, 2 tenor trombones, 1 tuba. Melodic percussion: xylophone (or marimba) chimes (or tubular bells). Percussion 1: snare drum, crash cymbals, gong. Percussion 2: bass drum, crash cymbals, gong.
The significance of Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre lies in its representation of death as the great social equalizer and its association with Halloween and the macabre. Originally an art song for voice and piano, the piece was later expanded and reworked into a tone poem for violin and large orchestra, becoming one of Saint-Saëns' most famous works.
Representation of Death: Danse Macabre was inspired by the French legend that Death plays the fiddle at midnight on Halloween, causing the skeletons in the cemetery to crawl out of their graves for a dance party. The theme of death as the great social equalizer, where no one can escape the dance with death, is depicted in the music and has inspired various paintings and art pieces.
Composition and Reception: The piece is in the key of G minor and scored for an obbligato violin and an orchestra of various instruments.  When it was first performed in 1875, Danse Macabre received mixed reviews, with some critics expressing anxiety due to its dissonance, use of a xylophone, and hypnotic repetitions. However, it is now considered one of Saint-Saëns' masterpieces and is widely regarded and reproduced in high and popular culture.
