Carnival of Venice (Bottesini)

mcnaire2004 · #1 09-28-2007, 04:09 PM

I am sitting in rehearsal (wind ensemble as the bassist) and our conductor gives us this piece Carnival of Venice since some famous trumpet player (Allen something) is coming to play with us. At first I am thinking, "I recognize the title". Then we play it and I recognize the theme. I realize it is Bottesini's own handy work even though his name isn't listed as the composer.

After rehearsal I asked the conductor who the composer was. He said it was some old Italian guy and the listed composer was the arranger. I said, "could it be Giovanni bottesini" he said, "yea thats it". I smiled. He didn't believe me that the variation of the opera was written for the double bass. I honestly didn't realize this was such a popular band piece.

I almost feel like some of the violinist and cellists out there when they hear transcriptions of their literature played on other instruments.

sibass89 · #2 09-28-2007, 04:24 PM

The Carnival of Venice is actually a folk tune that is from the Carnival season in Venice. This season started back in the 1200s, long before Bottesini. Although Bottesini composed a variations on the theme, he did not actually compose the melody and it is probably most popular as the standard showpiece of Allen Vizzuti.

mcnaire2004 · #3 09-29-2007, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sibass89

The Carnival of Venice is actually a folk tune that is from the Carnival season in Venice. This season started back in the 1200s, long before Bottesini. Although Bottesini composed a variations on the theme, he did not actually compose the melody and it is probably most popular as the standard showpiece of Allen Vizzuti.

Did not know that.

But the actually solo piece was written by Bottesini. It feels weird seeing something written for the bass played on other instruments.