Staff Pick
“Dazzling!”
Dvorak's Carnival overture is always exciting and this classy arrangement by Shaul Ben-Meir skillfully captures much of the colour of the original score. All the parts look straightforward to read so the challenge here is dealing with the large numbers that are involved in the ensemble. It's also quite long so stamina will be an issue, especailly for the lower instruments which only have brief moments of rest. As is increasingly more common, a part is included for contrabass flute, and while this would be great for adding extra colour, it isn't completely essential. If you have a large group with access to altos and basses give this a try - you will certainly dazzle your audience!
Known for his many symphonies, Antonin Dvorak composed plenty of other orchestral works, including this Carnival Overture (Op. 92). It is the second from a set of three concert overtures with the overarching theme of "Nature, Life and Love," with "In Nature's Realm" (Op. 91) and Othello (Op. 93) rounding out the set. It has been arranged for flute orchestra by Shaul Ben-Meir.
Difficulty guide: 8
Difficulty level, roughly compared to ABRSM exam grades. 0 is total beginner, 9 is advanced (beyond grade 8).
