Nocturne from A midsummer night's dream op.61 no.7
Original Title
Notturno aus Ein Sommernachtstraum Op.61 Nr.7
Composer
Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Felix
Year
1842
Editor
Arranger
Martinet, Leigh
Year Arranged
1993
Original Instrumentation
Full orchestra
Type of Arrangement
2
Availability
1
Publisher
Baltimore Horn Club
Year Published
1993
Catalogue Number
BHC.50
Sheet Music Format
A4, Score (4) & parts (8x1=8)
Horns
8
Additional Equipment
Straight mutes
Others
Other Instruments
Difficulty
1
Duration
6
Structure / Movements
One movement.
Andante
Clefs
Treble, bass
Meters
3/4
Key signatures
2b
Range
Horn 1: bb - c3
Horn 2: f - eb2
Horn 3: f - e2
Horn 4: Bb - d1
Horn 5: d1 - a2
Horn 6: f - eb
Horn 7: b - f#2
Horn 8: G - bb
Creator's Comments
Performance Notes
Martinet’s arrangement of the Nocturne is, as most of his arrangements, not in the original key. It is a tone lower than the parts in E, basically in E flat, starting on an F (horn pitch). That is convenient as the first horn goes up to a c3, but it is highly irritating to play the whole standard orchestral excerpt in the wrong key. As usual in his arrangements for eight horns, the main parts are distributed between horns 1 and 5, and the bass line is in horns 4 and 8.
While it is quite challenging, it is recommended to transpose this arrangement to horn in F sharp (a semi-tone higher), in order to restore the original key. Other than that it is am excellent transcription that works very well in concert, and is a good substitute for Martinet’s arrangement of Ravel’s Pavane (in the original key).