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Les mis (Two selections from Les miserables)

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Original Title: 
Les miserables
Composer: 
Schonberg, Claude M.
Year Composed: 
1980
Arranger: 
Meyer, Dick
Year Arranged: 
2008
Original Instrumentation: 
Voice & orchestra
Type of Arrangement: 
Transcription
Availability: 
Commercial
Publisher: 
VerMeulen Music
Year Published: 
2008
Catalogue Number: 
8150
Players
Number of Players: 
8
Additional Players: 
0
Approximate Duration: 
4
Technical Difficulty: 
Medium
Structure/Movements: 

2 pieces:
I At the end of the day
II I dreamed a dream

Clefs: 
Treble, bass
Key signatures: 
3b, None, 2#
Meters: 
6/8, 4/4
Range: 

Horn 1: g1 - c3
Horn 2: d1 - a2
Horn 3: c1 - g2
Horn 4: c1 - f2
Horn 5: g - e2
Horn 6: g - d2
Horn 7: d - c2
Horn 8:c - c2

Performance Notes: 

Les misérables, the musical, is the setting of Victor Hugo's novel by Claude-Michel Schönberg, with a libretto by Alain Boublil and lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer. Having become one of the most popular musical of all times, and adapted for the big screen, the story is familiar to many (and can easily be found in synopses online). Meyer arranges two of the many popular songs (all connected to Fantine, one of the main characters of the musical), "At the end of the day" and "I dreamed a dream".

"At the end of the day" is about Fantine's illegitimate child, who she had to give away but is still supporting through her current job. "I dreamed a dream" follows soon in act I, and as the title implies is about her unfulfilled dreams, aspiration, and the father of her daughter who abandoned her.

A well done arrangements, this is likely to become a popular item in many horn ensembles' repertoire.

 

Credits: 

Access to review score: Nancy Joy (NMSU)