Nocturne from A midsummer night's dream op.61 no.7
Original Title
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
1994
Catalogue Number
BHC.60
Sheet Music Format
A4, Score (3) & parts (4x1=4)
Horns
4
Additional Equipment
Others
Other Instruments
Difficulty
1
Duration
4
Structure / Movements
A4, Score (3) & parts (4x1=4)
Clefs
Treble
Meters
3/4
Key signatures
None
Range
Horn 1: e - c3
Horn 2: c - f#2
Horn 3: d - a2
Horn 4: G - d2
Creator's Comments
Performance Notes
Similar to his arrangement for 8 horns, Martinet's version for 4 horns started out in the wrong key (F major, C major horn pitch), but the parts have been amended, as so often, with pen to allow horn in F, E, or E flat. This is easy to do as there is no key signature, and is highly recommended (horn in E that is, not one of the other two).
Another difference is that this transcription is an abridged version, combining the opening with the ending and leaving out the development in the middle. In a version for only four players that is a good choice, as otherwise most players would suffer some form of lip damage.
The theme is split between horn 1 (the beginning up until the strings entry after the fermatas), and horn 3 (just one phrase, until the first horn takes over again). The fourth part does without bass clef, but there are a couple of c's that need leger lines, and one G indicated with 8vb.
This is a good option for quartets, but it needs a strong first player.