What is Carnival of the Animals?
{{italictitle}} [[File:Saintsaens.jpg|thumb|Saint-Saëns about 1895]] '''''The Carnival of the Animals''''' ([[French language|French]]: ''Le Carnavál de Animaûx'') is a musical composition by [[Camille Saint-Saëns]]. It is one of the best known pieces of classical music for children. == The history of its composition == Saint-Saëns wrote the ''Carnival of the Animals'' as a distraction while composing his ''[[Symphony No.3 (Saint-Saëns)|Symphony No. 3]]''. ''Carnival'' was performed at a small gathering of friends. Saint-Saëns did not want the general public to hear it, because he did not want to be thought of as someone who wrote jokey pieces. He wanted to be thought of as a serious composer. Just one [[movement (music)|movement]] was published during his lifetime: the famous Swan movement for solo [[cello]]. The rest of the work was not performed until a year after Saint-Saëns’ death. Following a disastrous concert tour of Germany in 1893, Saint-Saëns withdrew to a small Austrian village, where he composed The Carnival of the Animals in February 1894. It is scored for two pianos, two violins, viola, cello, double bass, Bass clarinet, saxophone, snare drumflute (and piccolo), clarinet (C and B♭), glass harmonica, and xylophone. == The Music == There are 14 short movements, with a short introduction. Saint-Saëns arranged it for an orchestra consisting of [[flute]] [[Instrumental doubling|doubling]] [[piccolo]], [[clarinet]] (B flat and C), two [[piano]]s, [[glass harmonica]], [[xylophone]], two [[violin]]s, [[viola]], [[cello]] and [[double bass]]. Today it is often performed with a full [[orchestra]] of strings, and with a [[glockenspiel]] instead of a glass harmonica, which is an unusual instrument. == Movements == * I: '''Introduction and Royal March of the Lion''' After an introduction the pianos introduce a march theme. They imitate the roar of the [[lion]]s. * II: '''Hens and Roosters''' This music sounds like [[hen]]s clucking (the strings) and a [[cock]] crowing (the clarinet). * III: '''Wild Ass