Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake is made up of folk tales from Germany and Russia, and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer’s curse. The ballet was premièred on 4th March 1877 by the Bolshoi Ballet company in the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, and despite its initial failure, has become one of the greatest ballets ever written.
 
The Swan Theme depicts the magic and mystery of the lake, with the oboe (solo horn in this version) playing the famous melody, which returns in various guises throughout the ballet. Tchaikovsky’s symphonic approach to ballet music was called “undanceable” by some critics after its première, but the score to Swan Lake has now become considered as the epitome of ballet music.
 
Sheet music available from:
UK - www.brassband.co.uk
USA - www.solidbrassmusic.com
 
Difficulty Level: 4th Section +
 
Instrumentation:
Soprano Cornet Eb
Solo Cornet Bb
Repiano Cornet Bb
2nd Cornet Bb
3rd Cornet Bb
Flugel Horn Bb
Solo Horn Eb
1st Horn Eb
2nd Horn Eb
1st Baritone Bb
2nd Baritone Bb
1st Trombone Bb
2nd Trombone Bb
Bass Trombone
Euphonium Bb
Bass Eb
Bass Bb
Timpani
Vibraphone