Le Cygne (The Swan) from Carnival of the Animals

[UCFEuph]

I'd like to perform this solo next semester and I want to order a copy of it, but there's quite a few arrangements of it. I was wondering if anyone's performed this work and I want to get some opinions (if possible) on some of the different arrangements before I decide on one. Thanks!

[Jrpetty24]

One thing to look for is the key in which the arrangement is in. I think the most common on Euphonium, and also the most virtuosic is the one in Eb. Knowing I cant comfortably play that, I went with an arrangement in Bb(the highest not in the piece.

[RickF]

I know this thread is a few years old, but I just saw a new video of "The Swan" (Saint-Saëns, arr. Drew Fennell) played by Matonizz. Gorgeous tone, pitch perfect and excellent phrasing! Matonizz has links for sheet music if interested.

[JakeGuilbo]

The Snell arrangement is good - full brass band parts and solo are fairly cheap
SWAN; THE (euph) - Parts & Score - Just Music - Brass Band Music and CDs (justmusicuk.com)

PDF of the solo part there for reading through.

The baritone GOAT Katrina Marzella just owning this arrangement:
(2) The Swan played by Katrina Marzella with National Youth Brass Band of Scotland - YouTube

[hyperbolica]

Robert Elkjer did a trombone quartet of The Swan. Really beautiful, even though it's in Gb (6 flats). This tune can get a little disorienting because of the chromaticism and range (goes to Db - octave plus half step above middle C). The second part is slow arpeggiated chords, and 3rd and 4th parts are easy potato notes.

https://robertelkjer.net/TrbnQuartetPage12.html

https://robertelkjer.net/Swan4TbnClip.mp3

[John Morgan]

I know this thread is a few years old, but I just saw a new video of "The Swan" (Saint-Saëns, arr. Drew Fennell) played by Matonizz. Gorgeous tone, pitch perfect and excellent phrasing! Matonizz has links for sheet music if interested.

That is a really, really nice performance by Matonizz, simply gorgeous. That arrangement is in Eb with a high Bb as the top note. I think that is the same key that Katrina (baritone) plays it in. In my opinion, it just doesn't get any nicer than what Matonizz did (and Katrina of course).

He plays a really long phrase towards the end in one breath, don't think there is circular breathing there. I surely cannot do that at this stage in my life (and being a former smoker for many years). Stunning performance.

[RickF]

John wrote,

He plays a really long phrase towards the end in one breath, don't think there is circular breathing there. I surely cannot do that at this stage in my life (and being a former smoker for many years). Stunning performance.

Agreed! I watched it a couple of times and don’t see circular breathing. On my music at #3 I have NB marked (no breath), but don’t think I could do that today. This recording is one of the best on euph I’ve heard for sure.

[davewerden]

Ooooo, I LOVE a challenge! I'm overqualified for AARP myself, but I may try that phrase near the end. The loud part is up high, which saves air, and then you are in a diminuendo, so...maybe. But I can't try it for a few days. I've sworn off euphonium until Saturday because I want to record one or two things on tuba Friday. I CAN double on the two in practice, but I think my tone will be better if I stick with just tuba. It's worse now because the horn has been in the case for several years and I only got back to it Sunday.

The phrase in The Swan could be too much for me, but that one is hard to predict. I never smoked, but my allergies have led to asthma that limits how deep I can dig into my air supply. It'll be fun to try, though!

[John Morgan]

Ooooo, I LOVE a challenge! I'm overqualified for AARP myself, but I may try that phrase near the end. The loud part is up high, which saves air, and then you are in a diminuendo, so...maybe. But I can't try it for a few days. I've sworn off euphonium until Saturday because I want to record one or two things on tuba Friday. I CAN double on the two in practice, but I think my tone will be better if I stick with just tuba. It's worse now because the horn has been in the case for several years and I only got back to it Sunday.

The phrase in The Swan could be too much for me, but that one is hard to predict. I never smoked, but my allergies have led to asthma that limits how deep I can dig into my air supply. It'll be fun to try, though!

Dave,

Me thinks you can do it. You played an exercise out of the Arban book, I believe, was a ton of notes, and did it in one breath. I tried it, and won't tell you where I had to take a breath(s)!!

Now, in high school, I could do that phrase in one breath, but that was a couple of years ago.