Carnival of the Animals (Saint-Saë‘ns)

Give the humor of this Fantasy its due. The Carnival of the Animals is meant to be enjoyed!

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 4.5 | Duration: 14:00

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

1st F Horn
2nd F Horn
3rd F Horn
4th F Horn*
1st Bb Cornet
2nd Bb Cornet
3rd Bb Cornet*
1st Bb Trumpet
2nd Bb Trumpet
1st Trombone
2nd Trombone*
3rd Trombone
Euphonium
(TC Baritone)
Tuba

String Bass*

Timpani
1st Xylophone
2nd Xylophon

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

Program Notes
Saint-Saëns wrote his Grand Zoological Fantasy - The Carnival of the Animals - in 1186. It was first performed at a Shrove Tuesday concert in that year with the composer as one of the performers.

Subsequently, Saint-Saëns allowed it to be performed only on a few occasions and under special conditions. Later he forbade it to be performed at all, but this restriction was lifted under a special provision in his will.