Saint-Saëns: Orient and Occident March, Op. 25 (Version for Orchestra)

Description

The first of a few works that Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) wrote for wind band, ORIENT AND OCCIDENT, subtitled "grand march," better resembles a tone poem. Inspired by the world travels he undertook later in life, the piece has clearly-defined Western (Occidental) and Eastern (Oriental) sections. Beginning in the West with a rousing march melody and stirring, processional legato, the work leads into an homage to Turkish (then considered Eastern) janissary music, with melodies in the double reeds and jangling percussion. The work ends with a return to the West with a fugue on the original theme that leads to an exciting accelerating finale. This edition for orchestra was completed by the composer.

Instrumentation in set: 2+Picc.2+EH.2+BCl.2+CtrBsn: 4.3.3.1: Timp.Perc(4-5): Str (9-8-7-6-5).