Carnival of Venice (song)
The Carnival of Venice, is a folk tune[1] popularly associated with the words "My hat, it has three corners" (or in German, Mein Hut, der hat drei Ecken). A series of theme and variations has been written for solo trumpet, as "show off" pieces that contain virtuoso displays of double and triple tonguing, and fast tempos.
Many variations on the theme have been written, most notably those by Jean-Baptiste Arban, Del Staigers, Herbert L. Clarke for the cornet, trumpet, and euphonium, Francisco Tárrega and Johann Kaspar Mertz for classical guitar, Ignace Gibsone for piano, and Giovanni Bottesini for double bass. Chopin's "Souvenir de Paganini", dedicated to the composer and violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini, is another variation on this theme. The popular novelty song, "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?", written and recorded in 1952, is based on the tune. A more recent piece making use of the theme, by Allen Vizzutti, called "The Carnival of Venus," is regarded as one of the most difficult trumpet pieces ever written due to range and technical demands.
The piece has also been arranged for tuba, notably played by John Fletcher and available on the CD The Best of Fletch. Also Roger Bobo on Tuba Libera (cd). Another tubist whose performance of the piece is noteworthy is Øystein Baadsvik, a Norwegian tubist.
Arrangements
- Paul Jeanjean (1874-1928): Venice Carnival (for clarinet)
- Paganini: The Carnival of Venice (for violin)
- Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909): Variations on Carnival of Venice (for guitar)
- Jean-Baptiste Arban (1825-1889): Variations on 'Carnival of Venice' (for trumpet)
- Mike Mower (b.1958): Deviations on the Carnival of Venice (for flute and piano)
- Wilhelm Posse (1852-1925): Variations on 'The Carnival of Venice' (for harp)
- Carlo Munier for mandolin and guitar
- Giulio Briccialdi Carnival of Venice for flute and orchestra Op.77
- Bob McChesney Variations on 'Carnival of Venice' for Trombone
Recorded versions
- "Carnival of Venice", arr. Frosini, Danny Kaye 1960
- "(The) Carnival of Venice", Benedict, arr. James Harry James and His Orchestra 1958
- "Carnival of Venice", arr. Johnny Lo Piccolo for accordion Australia
- "Carnival of Venice", arr. Tony Mottola, Tony Mottola And His Orchestra 1962
- "Carnival of Venice", arr. Jean Rolle, The Waikikis Netherlands 1963
- "Carnival of Venice", arr. Paganini, Zino Francescatti (Violin), Arthur Balsam (Piano) 1954
- "Carnival of Venice", Hank Snow guitar solo 1956
- "Carnival of Venice, Goodnight Vienna" The Keith Newton Sound 1970