Farandole (Concert Band - Score and Parts) - Bizet, Georges - Wiffin, Rob

In taking a lateral look at Bizet's famous Farandole, I decided to omit the full opening statement of the old Provencal tune Marcho dei Rei (March of the Kings), opting instead to make oblique references to it. The combination of this old Christmas song with another traditional Provencal Melody Danso dei Chivau-Frus (Dance of the Hobbyhorse) originally made by Bizet's friend Ernest Guiraud when he compiled Suite No.2 from Bizet's music to the play L'Arlesienne.The farandole is a traditional Provencal dance in which men and women hold hands in a chain and wind through the streets following a musician playing pipe and tabor. In the case of Danso dei Chivau-Frus, the lead dancer would wear a horse's head made of papier mache or something similar.I have attempted to stay true to the spirit of the Farandole and the contrapuntal devices added by Guirand while adding a few touches of interest and harmonic colour here and there.- Rob Wiffin

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