WIND QUINTET No.15 in C minor Op.231 No.3 (score & parts)

The third of my Italian Opera trilogy. The first movement uses melodies from Tosca, starting with the opening to Act I featuring Scarpia’s menacing theme. Later, there is Tosca’s Vissi d’arte and Cavaradossi’s E lucevan le stelle; the linking fugal idea is my own. The second movement raids Madama Butterfly; her entrance in Act I, the famous humming chorus and the even more famous Un bel di (One fine day). It is really just a selection with minimal links from me. The Scherzo uses themes from La Bohême: Rodolfo’s opening aria in Act I and Musetta’s Waltz Song in Act II (I once played her ‘sugar daddy’ Alcindoro in a local production – much fun!); the Trio quotes from the opening of Act III and Mimi’s famous Act I aria Mi chiama Mimi. The problem with Turandot as a source for the finale is there is only one tune that everyone knows, so I chose a couple of repeated ideas: the ‘Chinese’ tune which concludes Act I and the 4-bar phrase which is associated with the three riddles and fashioned the bulk of the finale with them. Of course, Nessun dorma has to be there somewhere and when it happens your horn player can be Pavarotti and keep you waiting on that high note just before the end! IH