Ian Deterling

Fanfare pour précéder "La Péri" flexible instrumentation

Fanfare pour précéder “La Péri” (Paul Dukas)

  • flexible instrumentation

    • Grade 4

  • ca. 2:00

Score/Parts PDF Previews

11x17 Scores

Program Notes

Composed by Paul Dukas, arranged by Ian Deterling.

  • A triumphant opener for your next concert! This arrangement of the Fanfare for “La Péri” by Paul Dukas captures the essence of the original with only slight modifications to make it more accessible for flexible instrumentation. Although Dukas is perhaps best known for The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, his music for La Péri (a ballet in one act - also his last published work) is considered by many to be his most musically mature piece. The ballet is about Iskender (Alexander the Great) searching for the Flower of Immortality. After years of searching, Iskender finds a Péri (a beautiful winged spirit) in possession of the flower. Full of impressionistic gestures and and romantic melodies, La Péri and its preceding fanfare are brilliant and exciting masterpieces of orchestral literature.

  • Instrumentation possibilities:

    • Part 1

      • C (High) - Flute; Violin

      • C (Low) - Oboe; C Trumpet; Violin

      • Bb - Bb Clarinet; Soprano Saxophone; Bb Trumpet

      • Eb - Eb Clarinet; Alto Clarinet; Alto Saxophone

    • Part 2

      • C - Oboe; C Trumpet; Violin

      • Bb - Bb Clarinet; Soprano Saxophone; Bb Trumpet

      • Eb - Alto Clarinet; Alto Saxophone

      • F - English Horn; Horn in F

    • Part 3

      • C - Viola

      • Bb - Bb Clarinet; Bb Trumpet

      • Eb - Alto Clarinet; Alto Saxophone

      • F - English Horn; Horn in F

    • Part 4

      • C - Bassoon; Trombone; Euphonium; Cello

      • Bb - Bass Clarinet; Tenor Saxophone; Euphonium T.C.

      • Eb - Alto Clarinet; Alto Saxophone

      • F - Horn in F

    • Part 5

      • C (High) - Contrabassoon; Trombone; Euphonium; Contrabass

      • C (Low) - Bassoon; Bass Trombone; Tuba; Cello

      • Bb - Bass Clarinet; Contrabass Clarinet; Euphonium T.C.

      • Eb - Baritone Saxophone

    • Percussion*

      • Crash Cymbals; Triangle; Bass Drum

      • Timpani

        • *Note: all percussion parts are optional

  • Performance Notes

    • Divisi

      • Parts 2, 3, and 4 have divisi (parts 1 and 5 do not). All divisi passages are written in the same octave (which is why parts 1 and 5 do not have any). Each individual part includes the divisi, so they could be performed both by two of the same instrument or by two different instruments. 

    • High/Low Parts

      • Parts 1 and 5 have 'High' and 'Low' parts; these are not divisi. They are written in the score on the same staff, but separated into high notation/low notation in parts (so the musicians don't have to be staring at octaves the whole time). This is either to suit the range of the instrument (like Flute vs. Oboe) or because the written transposition is different by an octave (like Tuba vs. Contrabass.)

    • Small Noteheads

      • A few parts include smaller noteheads when notes fall out of range of a certain instrument. Directions for which instruments are to play the smaller noteheads are included in both the score and parts.

  • Score and set of parts