Description
La Garde Montante from “Carmen”
Composed by Georges Bizet (1838-1875)
Arranged for Flute Choir by Nancy Nourse
Published by Alry Publications
Includes score and parts
Instrumentation:
Piccolo 1
Piccolo 2 (and Flute)
Flute 1
Flute 2
Flute 3 (B Foot)
Flute 4
Flute 5 (B Foot)
Alto Flute
Bass Flute
Contrabass Flute (Optional)
Performance Notes:
La Garde Montante is taken from Bizet's most famous opera, Carmen, which was composed in 1873-1874. This arrangement is an exact transcription of the movement found in the “Carmen Suite No. 2,” for the original key and form have been retained, and the dynamics are intended to produce as similar an effect as possible. There may be doubling of all the flute parts, including alto and bass, but it is recommended not to double the piccolos due to the difficulties of intonation and balance. If the bass flute is used, the alto flute plays only the first sixteenth note of bar 191, thus ending the succession of triplet sixteenths in the bass. It should be noted that low B's are written for Flute 3 and 5, but if these notes are not available, they may be played 8va. The offstage solo at the opening should not be doubled, and should be played to give a long distance effect. It has been scored so that there should be ample time for the performer to return to their regular position in the ensemble before playing again. If there are two Flute 1 players, the conductor may wish to have the solo in bar 9 double with one player 8va.
This transcription was written for the “St. Martin's Flute Ensemble” of Toronto.
– Nancy Nourse