Carmen Suite No. 1 [Saxophone Orchestra]

Please refer to the Instrumentation table below for the number of parts included in each package.

Carmen Suite No. 1 is a suite of particularly memorable instrumental movements excerpted from Bizet's opera Carmen. It consists of six movements: "Prelude," "Aragonaise," "Intermezzo," "Seguidilla," "Les Dragons d'Alcala," and "Finale (Toreador)." The suite showcases Bizet's outstanding orchestration through dance-like rhythms, lyrical and melancholic melodies, brilliant fanfares, and a wide variety of orchestral colors.

This arrangement seeks to reinterpret these qualities through the distinctive sonority of a saxophone orchestra. The saxophone family possesses a remarkably broad expressive range within a single instrumental family, from powerful and brilliant tones to warm, rich, and lyrical colors. Taking advantage of these characteristics, the arrangement has been designed to preserve the vivid orchestral colors and three-dimensional musical flow of the original while establishing a new and distinctive sound world.

In passages where the individual voices interact organically beyond their conventional roles of melody, countermelody, and accompaniment, the rich overtones and blended timbres characteristic of a saxophone orchestra bring new dimensions to Bizet's music. At the same time, the work's characteristic melodies and rhythms have been carefully preserved wherever possible, with particular attention paid to retaining its vitality, elegance, and dramatic tension.

• This arrangement is designed for flexible instrumentation, ranging from a minimum of 8 players to a 12-player ensemble and a full saxophone orchestra.
• Up to three parts are provided for each of the soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone sections. The 3rd parts are optional. Sopranino, bass, and contrabass saxophones are also optional. The basic concept is to have multiple players on each of the Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Baritone parts, while allowing the number of players in each section to be adjusted according to the size of the ensemble.
• Where chords are notated, the individual notes should be distributed among multiple players when more than one player is assigned to a part. When a part is performed by a single player, the upper note of the chord should generally be played. This allows the ensemble size to be adjusted without requiring changes to the score or parts.
• Percussion parts are ad lib. (optional) and the music is designed to remain musically complete with saxophones alone. Percussion may be added as desired to create a more brilliant sonority and enhance the dramatic effect.

Printed scores may not be reproduced (e.g., by making additional copies for additional players or stands) without permission from the copyright holder. Please purchase the required number of copies.

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Notes on Purchase
・This work is designed for an ensemble in which multiple players may perform the same part. If the number of performers exceeds the number of parts included in your package, please purchase an additional package or additional individual parts, where available.
・The work can also be performed in its minimum configuration, with one player on each essential part, excluding optional and ad lib. parts.
・If the number of full scores or parts is insufficient for the conductor, instructor, or performers, please purchase the required additional copies.
・If you have any questions, please contact us.