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

Carnival of the Animals, The - Suite (Le Carnaval des Animaux): Full Orchestra, Conductor Score & Parts

$125.00 USD
$125.00 USD
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Carnival of the Animals, The - Suite (Le Carnaval des Animaux) Cover Image
Carnival of the Animals, The - Suite (Le Carnaval des Animaux): Full Orchestra, Conductor Score & Parts

Carnival of the Animals, The - Suite (Le Carnaval des Animaux): Full Orchestra, Conductor Score & Parts

By Camille Saint-Saëns, ed./arr. by Steven Rosenhaus

Item: 36-A007890
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Carnival of the Animals, The - Suite (Le Carnaval des Animaux): Full Orchestra, Conductor Score

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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. This orchestral suite version transcribed by Steven Rosenhaus includes: Introduction and Royal March of the Lions, Kangaroos, The Cuckoo Deep in the Forest Fossils and Finale. Instrumentation: 2+Picc.2.2.2: 2.2.2+BTbn.0: Timp.Perc(2): Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set).

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Additional Details
Series: Kalmus Concert Masters
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
ISBN10: 1-63-361926-5
ISBN13: 978-163-361-9265
UPC: 659859241845
SKU: 36-A007890
Instrumentation: 2+Picc.2.2.2: 2.2.2+BTbn.0: Timp.Perc(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 technical mastery and prolific output made him one of the most performed classical composers of his era. He composed across all major genres—symphonies, concertos, operas, and chamber music—and served as organist at the Madeleine in Paris for two decades, a position that shaped his understanding of orchestral color and harmonic sophistication.

Saint-Saëns was known for his conservative musical tastes and occasional skepticism toward new compositional trends, yet he composed with unfailing craftsmanship and clarity. The Carnival of the Animals stands as his most enduring work, a piece that captures both his wit and his mastery of orchestration.

Why we love this

This orchestral arrangement brings one of music's most delightful and accessible suites into the full ensemble setting, where the vivid character pieces shine through ensemble textures and the brilliant orchestration becomes a teaching tool in itself. The work demands rhythmic precision and stylistic clarity from every section while remaining musically entertaining for performers and audiences alike, making it ideal for orchestras seeking repertoire that educates without sacrificing fun.

What to expect

A musical carnival unfolds before you: whimsical and sophisticated at once, with each animal portrait rendered in vivid orchestral color. The piece sparkles with wit and charm, balancing moments of grandeur (the lions' march) with delicate humor and playfulness, all delivered with Saint-Saëns' trademark elegance and clarity.

Who it's for

Orchestra directors seeking engaging, accessible repertoire that works for middle school through college ensembles and professional orchestras alike. The piece appeals to conductors who want to program something with immediate audience appeal while maintaining musical substance and offering valuable orchestration and ensemble skills.

How to get the most out of it

  • Establish a clear, energetic pulse in the Royal March of the Lions. Saint-Saëns relies on rhythmic precision to drive the humor; any sluggishness dulls the wit.
  • Balance the solo passages (cuckoo, fossils) so they project over the ensemble without dominating. These moments need transparency and air.
  • Shape the Kangaroos movement with crisp articulation and bright tone; the bouncing character depends on clean rhythmic clarity across all parts.
  • Keep the finale propulsive and celebratory. The momentum of this closing section ties the suite together and leaves audiences grinning.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece for a concert built around narrative or character-driven repertoire, or use it as an engaging concert opener that delights audiences immediately while showcasing your ensemble's control and orchestral color. It pairs well with other French Romantic works or can stand alone as a full concert suite.

Skills your students will build

  • Orchestral balance and blend across diverse instrument families
  • Precise rhythmic ensemble playing at moderate to quick tempos
  • Character and stylistic differentiation within a single work
  • Reading full orchestral textures and maintaining individual parts within ensemble context
  • Attention to articulation and dynamic shaping as tools for musical storytelling

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