Chamber orchestra

Reductions of large-scale orchestral works

Harold Arlen / Nigel Shore

Over the Rainbow

A luscious original arrangement of the classic song for voice and orchestra.

2(picc).2.2.2 - 3.2.3.0 - timp.perc - hp - voice - strings

Antonio Carlos Jobim / Nigel Shore

Saudades Jobinescas

Nigel Shore’s Brazilian suite for chamber orchestra based on Bossa Novas and Sambas by Tom Jobim.

1. Surfboard
2. Insensatez
3. Só danço samba

1(afl,picc).1.1.1 - 1.0.0.0 - 2perc - pf - strings

Pietro Mascagni

Intermezzo sinfonico
from the opera Cavalleria Rusticana

Mascagni’s ever-popular Intermezzo Sinfonico includes an important organ part, which can be problematic in certain venues. This orchestration replaces the organ part with winds to create a concert version for chamber orchestra.

1+picc.2.2.2 - 2.0.0.0 - hp - strings

Jules Massenet

Méditation
from the opera Thaïs

In his beautiful Méditation, Massenet makes use of a chorus to enhance the orchestral colour. This transcription, available in the original (*) or reduced (°) scoring, incorporates the vocal lines into the orchestra to create a homogenous texture.

*2.2+ca.2+bcl.2+cbn - 4.0.0.0 - timp - hp - solo vln - strings
°2.2.2.2 - 2.0.3.0 - timp - hp - solo vln - strings

Antonio Pasculli

Concerto
on themes from the opera La Favorita

The Sicilian oboist and composer Antonio Pasculli, known as the Paganini of the oboe, wrote many virtuoso concertos and paraphrases for oboe and piano. This concerto on themes from La Favorita is perhaps his most well-known. The present orchestration is for oboe and strings.

solo ob - strings

Giacomo Puccini

Nessun dorma
from the opera Turandot

When your star tenor wants to sing Nessun dorma but you don’t have a full Puccini orchestra? This!

2(picc).2.2.2 - 2.2.2.0 - timp.perc - hp - solo ten - strings

Giacomo Puccini

O mio babbino caro
from the opera Gianni Schicchi

Lauretta’s popular aria in an orchestration for chamber orchestra.

2.2.2.2 - 2.2.0.0 - hp - solo sop - strings

Giacomo Puccini

Quando m’en vo’
from the opera La Bohème

Musetta’s Waltz in a reduced orchestration.

2(picc).2(ca).2.2 - 3.0.2.0 - timp - hp - Solo sop - strings

Sergei Rachmaninov

Vocalise

In all its many versions, Rachmaninov’s most famous song is a popular concert piece. It is particularly well-suited to the soulful quality of the oboe.

solo ob - strings

Johann Strauß

Annen Polka

Previous editions of this Polka are at best virtually illegible, with varying repeats and different versions of the coda. This is a working edition of the original instrumentation.

1+picc.2.2.2 - 2.2.2.0 - timp.3perc - strings

Emile Waldteufel

Les Patineurs

The Skaters’ Waltz, inspired by the skaters’ rink at the Bois de Boulogne, in a version for chamber orchestra with reduced brass.

1+picc.2.2.2 - 2.2.2.0 - timp.3perc - strings

Trad. / Nigel Shore

Danny Boy

Frederic Weatherly’s ballad set to the traditional Irish melody Londonderry Air in a transcription for choir and orchestra.

2.1+ca.2.2 - 2.0.0.0 - timp.perc - SATB - strings