Princess Ida is a comic opera about a war of the sexes, brought to life by the famous Gilbert / Sullivan collaboration in 1884. Its topics include feminism, women’s education, evolution theory, and marriage to a certain degree. The overture consists of a vivace introduction, followed by a lyrical andante.
This arrangement is limited in the upper register, the 6th horn however has a workout in the pedal range. The tunes are spread throughout the first five horns, as are the accompaniment figures. With a good low player, this work could also be accessible to the ambitious beginner’s ensemble, given its quirky character (in the introduction), and its melodic beauty (in the andante).