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01684 773883

HOLST, Gustav (1874-1934)
Ballet Music from THE PERFECT FOOL
Concert Classics Series GMCL133

Catalogue Number: GMCL133

Difficulty level: E What's this?

ISMN: 9790222264984

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Perfect Fool  Pack image
Orchestration
Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, Cor Anglais, 2 Clarinets in A or Bb, Bass Clarinet, 2 Bassoons, Contra Bassoon, 4 Horns in F, 4 Trumpets in C or Bb, 3 Trombones, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion [2 or 3 players] (Bass drum, Cymbals, Tam-tam, Tambourine, Jingles [sleigh bells], Xylophone, Celeste), Harp
Strings (Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Bass)

Holst wrote a comic opera "The Perfect Fool" in 1918-22. It begins with a ballet which is danced by Spirits of Earth, Water and Fire. It starts with a wizard (who sounds like Uranus the Magician from Holst's Planets) who summons the Spirits of the Earth with a trombone. Later, a solo viola calls up the calmer Spirits of the Water. The third section is the dance of the Spirits of Fire.
This edition is faithful to Holst's original; he indicated that the following instruments were optional - 2nd Flute, 2nd oboe, Bass clarinet, Contra bassoon, Trumpets 3 and 4, Xylophone and Celeste. Additional cues have been provided to cover the absence of a Cor Anglais - but it just wouldn't sound as good would it?
Duration: 10½ minutes
A PACK comprises an A4 sized full score plus a complete set of parts including strings 4/4/3/4/2.

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