Neapolitan nights (Torna a Surriento, Tarantella, O sole mio, Funiculi-funicula)
Original Title
Composer
Various
Year
Editor
Arranger
Martinet, Leigh
Year Arranged
1996
Original Instrumentation
Voice & orchestra
Type of Arrangement
2
Availability
1
Publisher
Baltimore Horn Club
Year Published
1996
Catalogue Number
BHC.63
Sheet Music Format
A4, Score (4) & parts (4x2=8)
Horns
4
Additional Equipment
Others
Other Instruments
Difficulty
1
Duration
6
Structure / Movements
One movement in 4 sections:
I Curtis, Ernesto de - Torna a Surriento: Andante sostenuto
II Traditional - Tarantella: Vivace
III Capua, Eduardo di - O sole mio: Andante
IV Denza, Luigi - Funiculi-Funicula: Vivace
Clefs
Treble, bass
Meters
3/4, 6/8, 2/4
Key signatures
1b, 1#
Range
Horn 1: a - a2
Horn 2: c - f2
Horn 3: a - ab2
Horn 4: G - c2
Creator's Comments
Performance Notes
Martinet arranges four famous Italian tunes into a suite:
Torna a Surriento is a Neapolitan song by Ernesto de Curtis to words by his brother Giambattista, written some time between 1894 and 1905.
The tarantella is a traditional Italian dance, and of the large number in existence, this one will be instantly recognizable.
Out of the four works represented here, O sole mio is the most popular, with about every operatic tenor, and several pop and rock idols having sung one of the many orchestrations out there.
Funiculi, funicola was set tomusic in 1880 to celebrate the opening of the first funicular cable car on Mount Vesuvius. The version that has become popular in English speaking countries was published by Edward Oxenford, an English songwriter and translator.
“Instant recognition” could be the subtitle of this arrangement. The works are pieced together by simple transitions, and every time the tune (and tempo: slow-fast-slow-fast) changes, instant recognition is what will overcome the audience. The parts are all interesting, with the usual dominance of the first horn, but that doesn’t take away from the fun to be had playing this arrangement, as well as watching the audience every time a new song starts.