Album listing

Saint-Saens’ whimsical suite features everything from the Lions’ prowling orchestral themes to Kangaroo piano pounces and the Aviary’s fluttering flute runs. A string quartet make asses of themselves as Donkeys, whilst xylophone and flutes evoke Fossils.

Fossils

A chaotic, mad skeletal dance featuring xylophone, flute, clarinet, piano & strings from Carnival of the Animals (1886)

1:17

Cuckoo

Slow, hesitant piano & string quartet with ‘cuckooing’ flute & clarinet. From Carnival of the Animals (1886)

1:59

Donkeys

Flute, clarinet & string quartet making asses of themselves with ‘eeyore’ effects. From Carnival of the Animals (1886)

0:37

Kangaroos

Little leaps & uncertain pounces from 2 pianos & 2 violins from Carnival of the Animals (1886)

1:06

Swift Animals 

Fast and furious piano scales with pizzicato & staccato violins from Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns (1886)

0:41

Hens And Roosters

Clucks & crows from Carnival of the Animals with flute, clarinet, piano & string quartet (1886)

1:00

Aviary

Fluttering flute runs, light piano trills, tremolo strings & bird-like clarinet from Carnival of the Animals (1886)

1:20

March Of The Lions

Piano fanfares & fireworks into prowling orchestral theme from Carnival of the Animals (1886)

1:53

Carnival Finale

The lively ending to Carnival of the Animals with two vamping pianos, xylophone & small orchestra (1886)

1:14

Carnival Finale 2

The lively ending to Carnival of the Animals with 2 vamping pianos, xylophone & small orchestra (1886)

1:00

Fossils 2 

Chaotic, mad skeletal dance featuring xylophone, flute, clarinet, piano & strings from Carnival of the Animals (1886). Gapped editor’s mix

1:29

Cuckoo 2 

Slow, hesitant piano & string quartet with ‘cuckooing’ flute & clarinet. From Carnival of the Animals (1886). Gapped editor’s mix

2:12

Donkeys 2 

Flute, clarinet and string quartet make ‘eeyore’ effects. From Carnival of the Animals (1886). Quieter shrieks

0:37

Kangaroos 2 

Little leaps and uncertain pounces from 2 pianos & 2 violins from Carnival of the Animals (1886). Gapped editor’s mix

1:14

Swift Animals 2 

Fast & furious piano scales from Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns (1886). No strings

0:41

Hens and Roosters 2 

Clucks & crows from Carnival of the Animals with string quartet & piano (1886). No woodwind

0:48

Aviary 2 

Fluttering tremolo strings with double bass from Carnival of the Animals (1886)

1:20

March of the Lions 2 

Piano fanfares & fireworks into prowling orchestral theme from Carnival of the Animals (1886). Gapped editor’s mix

2:01

Carnival Finale 3

The lively ending to Carnival of the Animals with a small orchestra. Piano & xylophone join from midway

1:00

Fossils 3

A chaotic, mad skeletal dance featuring xylophone, flute, clarinet, piano & strings from Carnival of the Animals (1886)

1:00

Cuckoo 3 

Slow, hesitant & mysterious solo piano. From Carnival of the Animals (1886)

1:59

Donkeys 3

Flute, clarinet & string quartet making asses of themselves with ‘eeyore’ effects. From Carnival of the Animals (1886)

0:30

Kangaroos 3

Little leaps & uncertain pounces from 2 pianos & 2 violins from Carnival of the Animals (1886)

1:00

Swift Animals 3 

Curious, mischievous, stealthy pizzicato & staccato violins with a few tense moments from Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Saëns (1886)

0:40

Hens and Roosters 3

Clucks and crows from Carnival of the Animals with string quartet & piano (1886). No woodwind

0:30

A joyful Rondo from Mozart’s Horn Concerto dances with the spirited Viennese Waltz opening to Strauss’s Die Fledermaus and the celebratory Radetzky March. The Skaters’ Waltz is serene and elegant, whilst Suppé’s Light Cavalry is cantering and boisterous.

Musical Joke

Mozart. Bright & mildly comic 4th ‘Presto’ movement from Mozart’s ‘Musical Joke’ arranged for orchestra (1787)

2:03

Skaters

Waldteufel. Serene & grandly elegant orchestral arrangement of Waldteufel’s famous Skaters’ Waltz (1882)

2:54

Light Cavalry 

Suppe. Cantering, spirited & boisterous orchestral romp. Arrangement of overture to Suppé’s operetta (1866)

2:17

Anitra’s Dance

Grieg. Cheerful, quirky waltz from Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite arranged for orchestra (1876)

2:33

Radetzky March

Johann Strauss Sr. Spirited, celebratory quick march by Johann Strauss Snr arranged for orchestra (1848)

1:54

Die Fledermaus Overture

Johann Strauss II.  Spirited Viennese Waltz opening to Johann Strauss Jnr’s opera Die Fledermaus (1874)

3:00

Allegro Vivace

Mozart.  Joyful Rondo (Allegro Vivace) from Mozart’s Horn Concerto No. 4 (1786)

2:42

Debussy’s iconic Clair de Lune for piano and a gentle orchestral arrangement of Chopin’s Nocturne waltz. Bach’s stately Brandenburg Four sits alongside the gentle arrangement for cello, strings and piano of Massenet’s intermezzo from the opera Thais.

Cello Prelude

Bach. Arrangement of Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 for cello & strings. (1723)

2:37

Pastoral Allegretto

Beethoven. Lyrical, optimistic final movement of Beethoven’s 6th Symphony (1808)

2:51

Clair De Lune

Debussy. Arrangement of iconic Debussy piano tune for muted strings & orchestra (1905)

3:50

Nocturne

Chopin. Gentle orchestral arrangement of Chopin’s famous Nocturne waltz (1905)

2:48

Brandenburg Four

Bach. Cheerful, stately baroque orchestral. Arrangement of Bach’s 4th Brandenburg Concerto (1721)

2:29

Meditation

Massenet. Gentle, beautiful arrangement for cello, strings & piano of Massenet’s intermezzo from the opera Thais (1894)

2:30

Humoresque

Dvořák. Lilting, charming & cheerful string orchestral arrangement of Dvorak’s Humoresque No. 7 (1894)

2:13

Stirring orchestral themes from Peer Gynt are joined by Mozart’s lyrical clarinet Adagio and the emotional strings of Mahler’s 5th Symphony. A peaceful reimagining of Beethoven’s Moonlight piano solo partners Grieg’s solemn, orchestral Ase’s Lament.

Moonlight Sonata 

Beethoven. Peaceful, orchestral reimagining of the ‘Adagio’ from Beethoven’s Moonlight piano sonata (1801)

3:16

Adagietto 

Mahler. Beautiful, emotional slow strings from Mahler’s 5th symphony (1902)

2:45

Ase’s Lament

Grieg. Solemn, sad, slow orchestral lament from the Peer Gynt Suite (1876)

2:39

Clarinet Concerto

Mozart. Beautiful, lyrical clarinet & orchestra. 2nd ‘Adagio’ movement of Mozart’s clarinet concerto (1791)

2:04

Italian Symphony

Mendelssohn. Slowly marching pizzicato cellos & basses under elegant woodwind & string tune from Mendelssohn’s 4th Symphony (1833)

2:28

Solveig’s Song

Grieg. Stirring, grand orchestral theme from Grieg’s Peer Gynt (1876)

3:01

The stately second movement of Beethoven’s seventh symphony sits alongside the dramatic power of Dvořák’s New World Symphony. Lushly romantic, Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet theme joins with a fiery Slavonic Dance and the grand march of Bizet’s Farandole

Farandole

Bizet. Stately bassoon duet into a grand orchestral march (1872). 2:45

Sleepers Awake 

Bach. Stately string melody with complex woodwind & horn underscore arranged for orchestra. (1731). 2:48

Slavonic Dance 

Dvořák.Exuberant, fiery orchestral romp. (c. 1878). 2:26

Allegretto 

Beethoven. Grand, stately and moving second movement of Beethoven’s seventh symphony. (1812). 3:02

Allegro Con Fuoco 

Dvořák. Dramatic, powerful & grand orchestral theme. Fourth movement of Dvořák’s New World Symphony. (1893). 2:25

Romeo And Juliet 

Tchaikovsky. Broad, lushly romantic & famous theme by Tchaikovsky with classic symphonic ending. (1880). 4:08

Abdelazar Rondeau

Purcell. Cheerful but grandly baroque, English orchestral theme. (1676). 1:32

Te Deum

Charpentier. Formal, stately baroque orchestra with trumpet lead (c.1690). 1:38