Title

Freischutz incidental music

Original Title

Der Freischütz, op.77 Bauern-Marsch, Walzer, Jägerchor

Composer

Weber, Carl Maria von

Year

1821

Editor

Arranger

Terzer, Armin

Year Arranged

2010

Original Instrumentation

Full orchestra, male choir

Type of Arrangement

2

Availability

1

Publisher

Corniworld

Year Published

2010

Catalogue Number

CPH035a

Sheet Music Format

A4, Score (18) & parts (8x2=16, plus 3 alternate endings, total=19)

Horns

8

Additional Equipment

Others

Other Instruments

Difficulty

2

Duration

7

Structure / Movements

3 parts: Bauern-Marsch Walzer Jägerchor

Clefs

Treble, bass

Meters

C, 2/4, 3/4

Key signatures

2#, 3#, None (for horns in D and A)

Range

Horn 1: A - a3 Horn 2: e - f#2 Horn 3: e - a2 Horn 4: G- f#2 Horn 5: A - c#3 Horn 6: E - f#2 Horn 7: B - a2 Horn 8: E - f#2

Creator's Comments

This is the companion work to the Overture, comprised of three selections from the incidental music to Der Freischutz by Carl Maria von Weber. More information about the work can be found following the link above, or on various sites online. Of the three selections presented here, the Jägerchor is both the most interesting and challenging. The first four horns play the orchestral version (with a short breather in the repeat), and are thus written in the original keys of D (1-3) and A (4). The remaining four horns cover the orchestra and male choir parts. Not terribly challenging most of the time, the ending required considerable virtuosity in horn 5, with dotted staccato rhythms leading up to c#3 a few times. This is why the set also contains three alternate endings, each progressively easier and therefore more accessible. Taking into consideration only the easiest ending, Jägerchor would be of intermediate difficulty. Working backwards, Walzer is, as the name implies, a waltz, and not exactly one of the highest quality. Still, the change in instrumentation and register, combined with a quick alternation between melody, bass line and accompaniment requires some technical finesse, and should hold the player's attention for the brief duration of the section. The key of A major (horn pitch) also allows for some good finger-practice, and that third valve getting used for a change. Bauern-Marsch is a straight forward march, opening with trumpet fanfares (mainly on a2), and leading into a rustic theme. The march consists of two repeated sections, so each of them is given to one of the two quartets. The division of parts, as in the whole piece, follows the standard 2 section 1-3-2-4 pattern, however, as noted above, with more frequent excursions of the high horns into the bass parts. The score contains indications of stopping points between movements, so the set can either be performed as a whole, or any of the individual segments on its own. No doubt the Jägerchor will be the most attractive, however in connection with the Overture, the whole set makes sense, followed perhaps by the finale of the overture (as suggested at the end of this arrangement). In fact, the combination of the two is available at a reduced price, which makes the incidental music a lot more appealing than on its own.

Performance Notes

Credits

External Link

http://corniworld.com/

Sound

Score