Overture to “Candide”

By Leonard Bernstein
Trans. Clare Grundman
http://www.pickstaiger.org/video/over
ture-candide-l-bernstein-symphonic-
wind-ensemble
 Candide
• Based off a story by Voltaire in the 1700s
• Lillian Hellman adapted the story to make it an
operetta
• Leonard Bernstein was to compose the music
for this opera, his music was more in a
“musical theater style”
• WAS A BUST!
 The Music Thrived
• Although the dark story of Candide by Voltaire
was not popular as an operetta (too light for
opera, too dark for musical theater)
Bernstein’s musical compositions remained
popular
 Overture
(according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

• a : the orchestral introduction to a musical

dramatic work

• b : an orchestral concert piece written

especially as a single movement in sonata
form
 Wind Band Transcription
• Originally an orchestral work – this version is
transcribed by Clare Grundman for band


 Overture to “Candide”
• The overture to this opera has different
themes that reappear throughout the opera
• Overture is written in sonata form
• Four main themes
 Structure
• Section 1: Eb Major
– Contains Opening, Themes 1, 2, 3, and Transition
• Section 2: Bb Major
– Theme 4
• Section 3: Eb Major
– Opening, Themes 1, 2, 3
• Section 4: Bb Major – Eb Major
– Theme 4, Coda (Glitter and Be Gay, Opening,
Themes 3, 4)
 Opening

Brass Fanfare

Introduces the main pulse that sustains throughout the piece

Cut-time and 3/2

 Theme 1

Woodwind Runs.
 Theme 2
Quarter notes and glissandos

- In the woodwinds and later brass plays this theme

Style?
 Theme 3

Accents are very important in this theme!

Brass carries this theme in the beginning

 Theme 4

Clarinets and Saxophones begin this theme

The PULSE remains the same (between cut time and 3/2)

Pattern… What is it?

• http://www.leonardbernstein.com/candide.ht
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