Carnival of the Animals, The (Le Carnaval des Animaux) Cover Image

Carnival of the Animals, The (Le Carnaval des Animaux): Full Orchestra, Study Score

$13.95 USD
$13.95 USD
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Carnival of the Animals, The (Le Carnaval des Animaux) Cover Image
Carnival of the Animals, The (Le Carnaval des Animaux): Full Orchestra, Study Score

Carnival of the Animals, The (Le Carnaval des Animaux): Full Orchestra, Study Score

By Camille Saint-Saëns, ed. Clinton Nieweg/ ed. Nancy Bradburd

Item: 36-S008101
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Description
Following a disastrous concert tour of Germany in 1885-86, Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) withdrew to a small Austrian village, where he composed THE CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS (LE CARNAVAL DES ANIMAUX) in February 1886. From the beginning, the composer regarded the work as a piece of fun. He wrote to his publishers Durand in Paris that he was composing a work for the coming Shrove Tuesday, and confessing that he knew he should be working on his Third Symphony, but that this work was "such fun" ("... mais c'est si amusant!"). He had apparently intended to write the work for his students at the École Niedermeyer, but it was first performed at a private concert given by the cellist Charles Lebouc on Shrove Tuesday, 9 March 1886. Instrumentation: 1(dPicc).0.1.0: 0.0.0.0: Xylo.Harmonium(Glock): Solo Pnos(2): Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set). Study score.

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Additional Details
Series: Kalmus Study Score Series
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
ISBN10: 8-89-563234-6
ISBN13: 979-8-89-563234-5
UPC: 660355120961
SKU: 36-S008101
Instrumentation: 1(dPicc).0.1.0: 0.0.0.0: Xylo.Harmonium(Glock): Solo Pnos(2): Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set)

More about this title

About the Composer: Camille Saint-Saëns

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835, 1921) was a French composer, organist, and pianist whose prolific output spanned nearly six decades. A child prodigy who studied at the Paris Conservatoire, he became one of France's most celebrated musicians, holding prestigious positions as organist at the Madeleine and later directing the Société Nationale de Musique. His command of orchestration and gift for melody made him a dominant figure in French musical life.

Saint-Saëns composed the Carnival of the Animals as a respite from serious compositional work, yet it has become his most performed and beloved piece. The score reveals his mastery of orchestral color and witty character writing. Though initially reluctant to publish it during his lifetime, the work's enduring charm and theatrical brilliance have made it indispensable to orchestral education and performance.

Why we love this

This score teaches orchestration through delight rather than textbook analysis. Each movement is a masterclass in instrumental character and balance, with Saint-Saëns using surprisingly modest forces to create vivid sonic personalities. Young musicians quickly grasp how specific timbral combinations generate dramatic storytelling, making it an ideal bridge between concert music and genuine musical thinking.

What to expect

Carnival is a musical menagerie where each creature arrives with unmistakable personality. From the majestic lion's opening roar to the delicate fluttering of birds and the preening of peacocks, the work brims with affection and humor. Moments of genuine beauty emerge alongside sly musical jokes, creating an experience that entertains both listener and performer.

Who it's for

This study score serves advanced high school orchestras, college ensembles, and professional conductors preparing the complete work or individual movements. Teachers use it for score study and analysis; students benefit from following the full orchestration during performance. The Kalmus edition makes the score accessible to musicians at all levels who want to understand this essential orchestral work.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the two pianos in movements like 'Fossils' and 'The Aquarium' with care; they should enhance orchestral texture rather than compete with strings.
  • Let the xylophone shimmer without rushing its articulation, particularly in 'The Swan.' Clarity matters more than speed.
  • Encourage string sections to shape the musical phrases with character. The lion's roar requires different intensity than the gazelle's lightness.
  • Guard against making the slower movements sentimental. Saint-Saëns's humor often lies in gentle understatement rather than obvious expression.

How to use it

Program individual movements as concert openers or palate cleansers between weightier works. The complete suite works beautifully as a family concert centerpiece or education outreach event. Consider pairing select movements with animal-themed visual art or educational discussion to deepen student engagement with program music.

Skills your students will build

  • Score reading across multiple instrumental families simultaneously
  • Identifying and balancing distinct instrumental timbres within a transparent texture
  • Recognizing motivic development and thematic transformation across movement forms
  • Understanding how orchestration creates character and narrative without sung text
  • Coordinating ensemble rhythmic precision when texture shifts between sparse and full scoring

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