Saint-Saint--Saint--: The carnival of animals

Tonality

It changes in each of its fourteen numbers. «The swan» is in major sun.

Instruments

• Two pianos.
• Flute, clarinet, crystal harmonic and xylophone.
• Rope: two violins, viola, cello and contraband (today it is often played with string orchestra).

From the atril

Saint- Saint- Saint- «great zoological fantasy» during a vacation in Austria in 1886, as a joke for a private carnival concert in Paris. He was afraid that he would harm his image as a serious composer and prohibited his publication in life, with one exception: «The swan». The whole work was not released in public until 1922, a few months after his death, and since then it has not ceased to sound.

In fourteen numbers, lions, hens, turtles, elephants, kangaroos, fish, donkeys, birds and a swan, and also «pianists», treated like animals that make scales. It is full of winks: the turtles dance the Cancan of Offenbach in slow motion, the elephant sings on the counter a melody of Berlioz and «Guns» Saint- Saint- Saint- Macabra dance. «The swan», for cello and two pianos, it is one of the most beautiful melodies in the repertoire.

What to hear

• «The swan»with the cello on the waves of the pianos.
• «Aquarium», with the glow of the crystal harmonica.
• The turtles, who dance the caravan at a very slow step.

Listen

♬ Camille Saint- Saëns ♯ The Carnival of the Animals (complete) / Le Carnival des Animaux ♯ [HQ] · Melody Classical
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