Overture to Candide
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The Overture to Candide is the overture to Leonard Bernstein's operetta Candide. Although the operetta never achieved the mainstream popularity of West Side Story, the overture has earned a part in the orchestral repertoire. Since its first concert performance on January 26, 1957, by the New York Philharmonic under the composer's baton, the Overture to Candide has become one of the most frequently performed orchestral compositions by a 20th century American composer.
While many orchestrations of the overture exist, in its current incarnation for full symphony orchestra, which incorporates changes made by Bernstein during performances in December 1989, the piece requires a standard-sized contemporary orchestra of two flutes, two oboes, an E-flat and two B-flat clarinets, bass clarinet, two bassoons, contrabassoon, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, a large but standard percussion contingent, harp, and a standard string section. It is approximately four and a half minutes long. The theatre-sized orchestration, as in the published full score of the operetta, includes one flute doubling on piccolo, one oboe, two clarinets rotating between an E-flat, B-flat, and bass, one bassoon, two horns, two trumpets, two trombones, one tuba, standard orchestral percussion, harp, and strings. Main differences between the two are doublings and increased use of percussion effects (especially the addition of a drum roll during the opening fanfares) in the symphony orchestral arrangement. Differences between the first publication and later printings (of both orchestrations) include a slowed opening tempo (half note equal 132 instead of 152). An arrangement for standard wind ensemble also exists.
The overture incorporates tunes from the songs "The Best of All Possible Worlds", "Battle Music", "Oh, Happy We", and "Glitter and Be Gay" and melodies composed specifically for the overture. Much of the music is in odd time signatures including 6/4 and 3/2, which are furthermore combined with 4/4 and 2/2 to make effective 5/2s and 7/2s in places by rapid, regular switching between them and 3/2. (See hemiola)
An edited version was used as the theme music for The Dick Cavett Show.
The New York Philharmonic performed the Overture to Candide as part of its historic concert in Pyongyang, North Korea, on February 26, 2008.
[edit] References
- Hutchins, Michael H. "Song Notes". A Guide to Leonard Bernstein's Candide. Retrieved February 21, 2005.
- MacDonald, Malcolm. Preface to the score of the Overture to Candide. Bernstein: Orchestral Anthology, volume 2. Boosey & Hawkes, 1998. ISBN 0-85162-218-6; ISMN M060107627
