G & M Brand Publishers Nocturne From 'a Midsummer Night's Dream' - Mendelssohn/Brand - Concert Band/Horn or Alto Sax Solo - Gr. 3

Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
Arranger: Geoffrey Brand
Format: Score and Parts
Instrumentation: Solo Alto Saxophone or Horn with Band
Level: 3

Music of calm, romantic beauty. Mendelssohn's incidental music to A Midsummer Night's Dream is both dreamy and haunting. The famous horn solos may also be performed by alto saxophone.

Program Notes
Mendelssohn's incidental music to Shakespeare's play, A Midsummer Night's Dream, was written in response to a request from the King of Prussia; the first performance was given at Potsdam near Berlin in 1843.

The Nocturne has been described as music of "calm yet romantic beauty." Certainly Mendelssohn's choice of the horn as the solo instrument aptly captures the dreamy nature of this haunting music and has been an important factor in establishing the Nocturne as a favourite concert item in its own right.

This arrangement can also be performed with an alto saxophone playing the solo, in which case the 1st horn part should be omitted.
Duration: 6:45