Novelty / Comedy

ROMP FOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND "CELEBRITY" TRIANGULIST

by Richard Chiarappa
New!
Description: A comic "mini-concerto" for triangle and orchestra that can be a great way to raise funds by auctioning off the solo spot, or just to draw attention and audience to a concert by featuring a local "celebrity" like your Mayor, TV Weather Reporter, or Business or Civic figure. In any case, it's all in good fun.
Instrumentation:2/2/2/2 - 4/3/3/1 - timp, perc and Strings.
Duration:About 2:30
Cost:$120 Rental Only.
Notes:A video performance can be viewed HERE

THAT'S IT, THAT'S ALL... THE END!

by Robert Wendel
Description: For your "First Night" concerts, the perfect way to end the year, a medley of 7 famous Symphony finales! Auld Lang Syne is mixed with Schubert, Brahms, Dvorak, Mahler, and Beethoven. A nice way also to say goodbye to a retiring board member, or musician. You can also easily cut the 2 Auld Lang Syne references for a comic turn the rest of the year.
Instrumentation:2+picc/2/2/2 - 4/3/3/1 - Timpani, 2-3 percussion, and strings
Duration:5:40
Cost:$200 Rental Only.
Notes:The "shortened" version can be heard HERE.

THE CLASSICAL JUKEBOX

by Leroy Anderson
Description: Here is Leroy's famous "take" on the pop tune "Music, Music, Music" by Weiss & Baum... all mixed up with famous classical tunes, and a sticky needle in the Victrola! Newly edited from manuscript with errors corrected, the "stuck" section re-barred for easier playing, and fully engraved for the first time. Premiered by Leonard Slatkin & The National Symphony in May of 2007. Just in time for the Leroy Anderson Centennial in 2008!
Instrumentation:2+picc/2+EH[opt]/2+BCl[opt]/2 - 4/3(+4opt)/2(+3opt)/1 - Timpani, 2 percussion, harp [opt], and strings
Duration:3:00
Cost:$180 Rental Only.

THE APRIL FOOL CONCERTO aka "The Instant Concerto"

by Robert Wendel
Description: What can be said other than that this work lasts over 8 minutes, yet it doesn't have a single original theme in it! It's loaded with quotes Tschaikovsky to Sousa, from "Chop-Sticks" to Happy Birthday, and many "sight-gags" from a wedding to a cowboy gun fight! Truly a piece of comic relief. Mod easy solo piano part.
Instrumentation:2+picc/2/2/2 - 4/2/2/1[opt] - Timpani, 2-3 percussion, and strings
Duration:8:15
Cost:$200 Rental Only.
Notes:New version commissioned by Erich Kunzel for the Cincinnati Pops

PARADE OF THE PERCUSSIONISTS

by Robert Wendel
Description: A new, original march FOR the percussion section accompanied by the orchestra. A great surprise for any Pops concert, and perfect for Young People's Concerts. Exactly how many percussionists you use depends on how "athletic" they can be...which can make for good "visuals" too!
Instrumentation:2+picc/2/2/2 - 4/3/3/1 and strings PLUS Timpani, Trap Drums, 3-4 percussion, opt. piano
Duration:3:50
Cost:$180 Rental Only.

"UNDER THE BIG TOP"

by Robert Wendel
Description: Bring on the trapeze artists, the elephants, dogs and ponies and, of course, the clowns! They are all here in this new medley that's sure to be fun for all!
Instrumentation:2+picc/2/2/2 - 4/2/3/1 Timpani, 3 percussion, and strings
Duration:6:25
Cost:$200 Rental Only.
Notes:Commissioned by The Houston Symphony and Michael Krajewski. Premiered May 24th, 2006.

BAROQUE FESTIVAL OVERTURE

by Robert Wendel
Description: A celebration of famous Baroque melodies by Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Clark, and others in overture format. Can your audiences name those tunes, from "Masterpiece Theater" to "Hallelujah?"
Instrumentation:2/2/2/2 - 4/3[1st picc in D, 2&3 in C]/2/0 - timp, SD and Strings.
Duration:4:45
Cost:$180 Rental Only.
Notes:Commissioned by The Houston Symphony and Michael Krajewski. Premiered June, 2007.

ORFEO'S "ROCKATTA"

by Monteverdi
Description: 2007 marked the 400th anniversary of what is considered to be the first "modern" opera, so I've "updated" the Toccatta from Monteverdi's "Orfeo" for the pop/rock generation, complete with a development section. Terrific for Pops AND Young People's Concerts, ESPECIALLY if you open the concert with the first 14 bars [as Monteverdi wrote it] then close the concert with the FULL work. Four hundred years then comes full circle!
Instrumentation:2+picc/2/2/2 - 4/3/3/1 - Timpani, Trap set, Chimes, Glock, Tam-Tam, Piatti and Bass Drum, and Strings
Duration:2:45
Cost:$150 Rental Only.

SWING, LUDWIG, SWING!

by Robert Wendel
Description: Don't roll over Beethoven, swing him, American style! Portions of Beethoven's 5th and 9th symphonies are set to full-out hard and fast swing.
Instrumentation:2+picc/2/2/2 - 4/3/3/1 - Timpani, Trap Drums, 2-3 percussion, and strings
Duration:3:20
Cost:$180 Rental Only.

GASOLINE CAN-CAN

by William Perry
Description: The Key is Turned! The engine roars! The car comes to life! Driven by the magnificent Monsieur Toad!
Yes, this is Toad of Toad Hall imagining himself in the Grand Prix, racing his motor car through the highways and byways of France. This highly descriptive music is complete with klaxon horn and optional pots and pans at the end as Toad crashes his car.  Hearing this music, British poet, Roger McGough, visualized Toad singing to himself:  

Zut alors!
I adore
For to squash a peasant flatter
Than a crepe
As I step
On le joli gasoline.
 
Down ze hill
Such a thrill
To see all the chickens scatter
As I clatter
Down ze highway
In my racing car machine!   

Instrumentation:3(1 d picc)/2+Ehn/2+BCl/2 – 4/3/3/1 - timp +4perc – harp, piano/strings
Duration:approx. 2:54
Cost:$180 Rental Only

THE ADVENTURES OF SINBAD - OVERTURE

by Anton Koch
Description: "The Adventures of Sinbad" Overture, formed part the the staged retelling of Sheherazade's "Tales from the 1001 Nights" during the closing ceremonies of the 2006 Asia Games in Doha, Qatar. Ali Baba discovers the treasure cave of the forty thieves and the magic formula which opens the entrance to the cave. He would visit the cave when the thieves were away and carry off their stolen treasures. One day he is caught in the act by the Robber Chief who plots to reclaim his treasures by disguising himself as a long lost friend of Ali Baba. Ali Baba's faithful servant discovers the Robber Chief's plot and she devises a plan to trap him with an exotic dagger dance; however, it is the thieves that trap her and her master. Sinbad and his "loyal crew of adventurers" come to the rescue in a spectecular display of flying ships over the arena.
Instrumentation:2+Picc/1+E Hn/2/1+CBn - 4/3/3/1 - timp / 3-5 perc - harp & strings.
Duration:5:05
Cost:$200 Rental Only

See also; The Snapshot Concertos and The Tale Of Peter Rabbit, by Sean O'Boyle.

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