L'Arlésienne: Suite No. 1, GB 121/Op. 23bis Cover Image

L'Arlésienne: Suite No. 1, GB 121/Op. 23bis: Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

$135.00 USD

L'Arlésienne: Suite No. 1, GB 121/Op. 23bis: Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Name: L'Arlésienne: Suite No. 1, GB 121/Op. 23bis: Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 36-A118902
Price: 135.00 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

By Georges Bizet, ed./arr. by Fritz Hoffmann

Item: 36-A118902

$135.00

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L'Arlésienne: Suite no. 1, GB 121/Op. 23bis was assembled in 1872 by Georges Bizet (1838-1875) from his incidental music to Alphonse Daudet's drama L'Arlésienne, first staged that same year in Paris. Although the play itself was not a success, Bizet's music quickly gained independent life in the concert hall. The suite, premiered shortly after the stage production in 1872, draws on themes that evoke southern French folk character, including the famous "March of the Kings." The later editorial work of Fritz Hoffmann helped standardize the suite for modern performance. Today L'Arlésienne: Suite no. 1 stands as one of Bizet's most frequently performed orchestral works, firmly established in the standard repertoire. Instrumentation: 2.2(1st dEH).2.2: Asax: 4.4.3.0: Timp.Perc(1): Hp(or Pno): Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set) [can be played w/ 1.1(dEH).2.1: 2.2.1.0: Str (1.1.1.1.1)]. Reprint edition.

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Series: Kalmus Orchestra Library

Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.

UPC: 605258957764

SKU: 36-A118902

Instrumentation: 2.2(1st dEH).2.2: Asax: 4.4.3.0: Timp.Perc(1): Hp(or Pno): Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set) [can be played w/ 1.1(dEH).2.1: 2.2.1.0: Str (1.1.1.1.1)]

More about this title

About the Composer: Georges Bizet

Georges Bizet (1838-1875) was a French composer whose operatic genius came to full fruition late in his career, yet whose orchestral works have endured with equal force. Born in Paris and trained at the Conservatoire, Bizet possessed a gift for memorable melody and vivid orchestration that made even incidental music for theater feel like concert hall material. His career was marked by intense creative drive and a keen ear for character and color.

Bizet's operatic masterpiece Carmen appeared in 1875, the year of his death, and has become one of the most performed operas worldwide. Before that triumph, his instrumental works including L'Arlésienne demonstrated his command of orchestral writing and his ability to capture place and atmosphere through music. Today, conductors and orchestras return repeatedly to his suites and symphonic works for their blend of French elegance, rhythmic vitality, and memorable themes.

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Why we love this

L'Arlésienne Suite No. 1 delivers immediate musical gratification. The themes are so natural and singable that audiences connect to them instantly, while the orchestration rewards careful attention to detail and balance. Programming this work signals serious musical culture; it sits comfortably alongside Brahms, Dvořák, or Tchaikovsky in any season, and the flexibility of the scoring (full orchestra or reduced instrumentation) means you can program it whether you have 60 musicians or 30.

What to expect

Sunlit and spirited, L'Arlésienne evokes the landscape and character of southern France with warmth and melodic grace. The music moves between moments of tender lyricism and folk-inspired dance rhythms, always maintaining a sense of lyrical beauty even in the most energetic passages. There is no darkness here; instead, Bizet offers charm, orchestral color, and melodies that linger in memory long after the final note.

Who it's for

Orchestra directors programming concert repertoire at the intermediate to advanced level will find this work essential. Advanced high school orchestras, college orchestras, and professional regional orchestras rely on L'Arlésienne as a crowd-pleasing standard that develops musicianship while delivering audience appeal.

How to get the most out of it

Balance the famous March of the Kings so the woodwind melody sings over the rhythmic support of horns and lower strings; this opening movement sets the tone for the entire suite.
Shape the harmonic progressions with subtle dynamic inflection rather than abrupt changes; Bizet's French style favors elegance over drama in transitions.
Clarify the articulation between sections so that folk-like melodies stay crisp and the orchestration remains transparent, even when textures thicken.
Conduct with precision in the faster passages, particularly the Minuet; the charm of this suite depends on rhythmic clarity and well-defined phrases.

How to use it

Position this suite as a centerpiece on a concert that balances lighter and heavier works; it works beautifully after a substantial opening piece and before a demanding finale. The reduced instrumentation option makes it ideal for tours or concerts where full orchestra resources are limited. Consider pairing it with other French orchestral works or with 19th-century nationalist repertoire to create thematic programming that audiences will remember.