Rondeau from 'Abdelazer' (Purcell)

Abdelazer was a 17th century masque - a blend of poetry, dance, and instrumental music especially popular at the court of James I of England. Purcell wrote the music in 1695. This rondeau is a short dance in the masque which would probably have been forgotten had not Benjamin Britten made it popular when he used it as the theme for his "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra."

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 3 | Duration: 3:20

Instrumentation
1st Flute
2nd Flute
Oboe*
1st Bb Clarinet
2nd Bb Clarinet
3rd Bb Clarinet
Bb Bass Clarinet*
Bassoon*
1st Eb Alto Saxophone*
2nd Eb Alto Saxophone*
Bb Tenor Saxophone*
Eb Baritone Saxophone*

1st Bb Trumpet
2nd Bb Trumpet
1st F Horn
2nd F Horn
1st Trombone
2nd Trombone*
Euphonium
(TC Baritone)
Tuba

Timpani
Percussion 1* (tambourine, xylophone, glockenspiel)
Percussion 2* (crash cymbals, triangle, snare drum)

Parts marked with as asterisk (*) are NOT ESSENTIAL, although their presence will obviously enable a fuller realization of the composer's intentions to be achieved.

Program Notes
Abdelazer was a 17th century masque - a blend of poetry, dance, and instrumental music especially popular at the court of James I of England. Purcell wrote the music in 1695.

This rondeau is a short dance in the masque which would probably have been forgotten had not Benjamin Britten made it popular when he used it as the theme for his "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra."

David Farnon's stylish score expands the original theme and varies it in accordance with 17th century practice.