Sax Octets

Ballet Egyptien

Alexandre Luigini, arr. Peter Guthrie

Composed:
1875 Arranged:
1997 Grouping:
SAAATTBb Duration:
11:30

Luigini was brought up with music, his father being the conductor of the orchestra of the Grand-Theatre in Lyons. After studying at the Conservatoire in Paris, he spent a great deal of time playing as a violinist in his father's orchestra, which he went on to lead and then conduct. His compositions reflect his stage-orchestra background, being mostly light music for ballet and theatre productions (including two operas). He also composed a number of songs and works for string quartet and other chamber groups.

Luigini's Ballet Egyptien is his best known work, gaining great popularity in the early 20th century as a concert suite. It originally gained prominence when it was included in the second act of Verdi's Aida for a performance in Lyon in 1886. The suite has four movements, with the initial allegro repeated in the finale.

Arranged for the Kimbolton School Saxophone Octet, 1997.

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