Shostakovich (arr. Sundra) - Festive Overture for Clarinet Choir

Dmitri Shostakovich - Festive Overture, Op. 96, arranged for Clarinet Choir by Eddie Sundra. Dmitri Shostakovich’s Festive Overture, a staple in the orchestral literature, was written in 1954 in a span of just three days. This upbeat, joyous piece was conducted by the composer himself for the Bolshoi Theatre’s 37th anniversary of the 1917 Revolution. It features strong melodic themes, plenty of technical flamboyance, and a thrilling finish, making it a perfect candidate for opening or closing a program.

This arrangement attempts to stay faithful to the original orchestral score, while using a much more agreeable key for Bb clarinets. For the purpose of fitting the needs of various clarinet choirs, Bass Clarinet 2 doubles Alto Clarinet, and Contrabass doubles Contra-alto Clarinet. It is recommended that there be at least two clarinets per part, aside from Eb clarinet and Contra-alto/bass, though feel free to adjust accordingly based on strength and size of the ensemble. Published by Potenza Music.

Instrumentation:

• E-flat Clarinet
• 3 B-flat Clarinets
• Alto Clarinet (or Bass Clarinet 2)
• Bass Clarinet
• Contrabass Clarinet/Contralto Clarinet