Symphonie Burlesque
Reference EFA 133
Suite for percussion, winds and piano
Conductor: 30 p Separate parts: 24
Mel Bonis's posthumous ‘symphonie burlesque’, Op. 181, is a work of fantasy that tells the story of a walk, a picnic, a pastoral and an eventful return in four movements. In the midst of showers and sunny lulls, there are happy, familiar tunes.
I think this work is particularly well suited to young musicians working together on percussion. It should be a great success as an audition piece or end-of-year concert piece for a meeting of percussion, melodic top instruments and piano classes. It requires a certain level of skill on the part of the performers.
The entire suite can be played, or just a selection of pieces. The nomenclature can be adapted to suit the performers and the equipment available. The mirlitons, for example, can be played with a pic-colo.
