Saint-Saens Carnival of Animals

[juno_nb]

Thoughts on performing Saint-Saens Carnival of Animals in original form for 11 instruments? Pros and cons? Should there really be a narrator (personally i HATE it with narrator...)?

Mod edit: moved from chamber music discussion - probably better here. FB

[fredbucket]

Thoughts on performing Saint-Saens Carnival of Animals in original form for 11 instruments? Pros and cons? Should there really be a narrator (personally i HATE it with narrator...)?

I think S-S regarded this as a bit of a trifle - perhaps the same can be said for Peter and the Wolf.

The narration of course is not original, and even worse, is American, so my thoughts are with you. If you can get away with it, fine, but I suspect Nash's words are too ingrained into the public psyche for you not to get away with it.

Regards
Camille

PS as there are two pianos involved, who gets to play the Stuart?

[juno_nb]

It just ruins the music with narrator - aquarium for example! - scoring is 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, 2 pianos, 2 percussionists.
The Stuart - would love to play the Stuart but we have a matched pair of C7's and it would sound feeble with a C7 against a Stuart so i think it will have to be the two Yamaha which are not terrible but not amazing either

[arglmann]

It just ruins the music with narrator - aquarium for example! - scoring is 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, 2 pianos, 2 percussionists.
The Stuart - would love to play the Stuart but we have a matched pair of C7's and it would sound feeble with a C7 against a Stuart so i think it will have to be the two Yamaha which are not terrible but not amazing either

The most interesting thing is for me what Saint-Saens really meant with "harmonica". I think he meant the harmonica from the definition of Berlioz' Treatise;
something like a piano with glass keys or similar...

[fredbucket]

something like a piano with glass keys or similar...

I believe the 'correct' name is the armonica - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_armonica

Regards
Fred

[juno_nb]

something like a piano with glass keys or similar...

I believe the 'correct' name is the armonica - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_armonica

Regards
Fred

I will likely opt for a celeste over the glock' that S-S suggested as an alternative, it doesn't seem unlikely that had the instrument been around longer at the time he may have authorized it... quite a stretch i know...

[arglmann]

something like a piano with glass keys or similar...

I believe the 'correct' name is the armonica - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_armonica

Regards
Fred

I will likely opt for a celeste over the glock' that S-S suggested as an alternative, it doesn't seem unlikely that had the instrument been around longer at the time he may have authorized it... quite a stretch i know...

At least the aquarium is possible with a glass harmonica. Quite fast, but possible