Product Description
The Overture "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is originally composed by the German composer Felix Mendelssohn, who was inspired by reading William Shakespeare's play "A Midsummer Night's Dream." It was initially created as a piano piece for duet, intended for enjoyment with his sister Fanny. Notably, Mendelssohn himself later arranged it for orchestra in 1826 when he was just 17 years old.
Fast forward 16 years, this piece took an unconventional path to composition. It was commissioned by King Wilhelm IV of Prussia at the time, and the overture became part of a larger work known as "Incidental Music," where it was accompanied by other pieces, apart from the overture.
The Overture "A Midsummer Night's Dream" begins with four chords that evoke a gentle breeze, as if beckoning you into the world of fairies, in line with the folklore that claims that on the eve of Midsummer (Walpurgis Night), fairies and witches gather for revelry. It then transitions into the theme of the fairy's fluttering wings, followed by the music of the Fairy King's palace, the lovers' theme, and passages for clowns and hunting scenes. Finally, it returns to the fairies, dancing and disappearing as if carried away by the wind.
We have arranged this enchanting piece for a brass ensemble, featuring ten players (3 trumpets, 3 horns, 3 trombones, and 1 tuba). The 1st Trumpet part includes an optional switch to Piccolo Trumpet, but this is purely optional and not mandatory to perform the arrangement.
Additionally, please note that the 3rd Trombone part is intended for the Bass Trombone but can also be performed using Euphonium or Tenor Bass Trombone.
Please be sure to watch the short video of the reference performance below!
https://youtube.com/shorts/MWL5WA3Wl04
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.