Overture to “Candide”

By Leonard BernsteinTrans. Clare Grundman

http://www.pickstaiger.org/video/overture-candide-l-bernstein-symphonic-wind-ensemble

Candide

• Based off a story by Voltaire in the 1700s• Lillian Hellman adapted the story to make it an

operetta• Leonard Bernstein was to compose the music

for this opera, his music was more in a “musical theater style”

• WAS A BUST!

The Music Thrived

• Although the dark story of Candide by Voltaire was not popular as an operetta (too light for opera, too dark for musical theater) Bernstein’s musical compositions remained popular

Overture (according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

• a : the orchestral introduction to a musical dramatic work

• b : an orchestral concert piece written especially as a single movement in sonata form

Wind Band Transcription

• Originally an orchestral work – this version is transcribed by Clare Grundman for band

Overture to “Candide”

• The overture to this opera has different themes that reappear throughout the opera

• Overture is written in sonata form• Four main themes

Structure

• Section 1: Eb Major– Contains Opening, Themes 1, 2, 3, and Transition

• Section 2: Bb Major– Theme 4

• Section 3: Eb Major– Opening, Themes 1, 2, 3

• Section 4: Bb Major – Eb Major– Theme 4, Coda (Glitter and Be Gay, Opening, Themes

3, 4)

Opening

Brass Fanfare

Introduces the main pulse that sustains throughout the piece

Cut-time and 3/2

Theme 1

Woodwind Runs.

Theme 2

Quarter notes and glissandos

- In the woodwinds and later brass plays this theme

Style?

Theme 3

Accents are very important in this theme!

Brass carries this theme in the beginning

Theme 4

Clarinets and Saxophones begin this theme

The PULSE remains the same (between cut time and 3/2)

Pattern… What is it?

• http://www.leonardbernstein.com/candide.htm