Sophisticated arrangement of well-known melodies

The Nutcracker is the last and most successful work by the Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky. Based on the story Nutcracker and Mouse King by E. T. A. Hoffmann, the work still enjoys great popularity today and is regularly performed, especially in the run-up to Christmas. The present arrangement by flautist Jennifer Seubel uses as its basis the Nutcracker Suitein which the composer has summarized the best-known pieces.

The arrangement for two flutes is characterized by a skilful division of the thematic action between the two voices, which creates charming dialogues, as already seen in the Overture and in the March can be heard.

Since the flute already plays a leading role in the orchestral parts, it was, for example, in the Dance of the reeds possible, as the editor writes, "to take a few bars directly from the original". The Dance of the sugar fairywhere both flutes play the celesta solo and share the cadenza. The fast dance Trepak is played in thirds and sixths in the outer sections and thus achieves great compactness and intensity. The wind solos in the other dances are also well suited to two flutes, so the well-known flute solo from the Chinese dance can be well integrated into a duet. In the Flower waltz the familiar opening motifs of horn and clarinet remain in the first flute part, while the string accompaniment has largely been transferred to the second part.

A certain amount of technical skill is required in almost all movements, for example in the semiquaver runs. The entire range of the flute from c' to b"' (with an ad libitum octave up to c"") also appears in the duo arrangement, which is related to the orientation towards the original score. The Nutcracker Suite for two flutes is a successful and demanding arrangement of the well-known, catchy melodies, which is suitable for advanced players and, as Jennifer Seubel writes in the foreword, is worth "accepting the challenges".

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Nutcracker Suite, for two flutes arr. by Jennifer Seubel, full score, BA 10951, € 19.50, Bärenreiter, Kassel