Carnival of the Animals: The Swan for flute ensemble
$12.00
Because he wanted to be considered a composer of serious, substantial music, Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921) suppressed his “Carnival of the Animals” shortly after its premiere in 1886, disallowing any execution of the whole suite.
This one movement that he allowed to be published in his lifetime was a welcome addition to pieces written for the cello. However, the whole “zoological fantasy” is a most successful example of humorously themed music in the classical repertoire and has become, with full right, one of the composer’s most popular works.
In this arrangement, the famous floating melody is shared between the three flutes , with the alto and bass flutes providing a smooth foundation.