The Carnival of the Animals
The Carnival of the Animals (Le carnaval des animaux) is a humorous musical suite of fourteen movements by Camille Saint-Saëns. It is scored for two pianos, two violins, viola, cello, double bass, flute, piccolo, clarinet (C and B♭), glass harmonica, and xylophone.
The seventh and one of the more musically rich movements, is called The Aquarium. Its melody is played by the flute, backed by the strings, with tumultuous glissando-like runs by the piano.
The ninth movement, written for two pianos and clarinet, is called The Cuckoo In The Depths of the Woods. The pianos play large, soft chords while the clarinet repeatedly plays a single two-note ostinato, mimicking the call of a cuckoo bird. Saint-Saens states in the original score that the clarinetist should be offstage.
The thirteenth and most famous movement is called The Swan, and was written for cello and two pianos. It was the only movement of The Carnival of the Animals to be published in Saint-Saëns' lifetime, because he thought the other movements were frivolous. His arrangement for cello and solo piano was published in 1887.
Camille Saint-Saëns (1835 - 1921) was a prominent French composer, organist, and pianist. A child prodigy, he is now remembered for The Carnival of the Animals suite, the Samson and Delilah opera, the Symphony #3 (Organ Symphony), the first violin-sonata, and various concertos.
Tutorials
Aquarium
Sheetmusic: see Matthew Cossey
The Cuckoo In The Depths of the Woods
(Under Arrangements and Transcriptions: Garban: Piano Solo)
The Swan
