Grand Air de Zair - Solo Euphonium & Wind Band

Grand Air de Zair is an eight minute recitative and aria from Saverio Mercadente's opera 'Zaira'. In the 18th Century when Italian opera dominated Europe we find the 30 year old Mercadente leaving Italy in 1826 to try his fortunes in Spain and Portugal. He composed seven operas there before returning to Italy in 1831. In 1830 he composed a new work for Naples, the opera Zaira based on one of Voltaire's finest tragedies. The theme is the conflicting claims of religion and love, for Zaira is torn between the alleginace she owes to the Christan faith in which she was born and the love she feels for Sultan Orosmane.

All the be canto, lyrical phrases and cadenzas are present in this Italian virtuoso show piece ina style that could be compared as a mix between Rossini's 'Una voce poco fa' and 'Largo al Factotum'.

Instrumentation:

• Euphonium Solo (C, T.C. or B.C.)
• Piccolo
• 4 Flutes
• 2 Oboes
• 2 Bassoons
• Eb Clarinet
• 5 Bb Solo Clarinets
• 5 Bb Clarinet I's
• 5 Bb Clarinet II's
• 5 Bb Clarinet III's
• Eb Alto Clarinet
• Bb Bass Clarinet
• 4 Eb Alto Saxes
• 2 Bb Tenor Saxes
• Eb Baritone Sax
• 2 F Horn I-III's
• 2 F Horn II-IV's
• 2 Bb Trumpet I's
• 2 Bb Trumpet II's
• 2 Bb Trumpet III's
• 2 C Trombone I's
• 2 C Trombone II's
• 2 C Trombone III's
• C Baritone
• C-Bass
• Timpani
• Percussion I: Snare Drum, Triangle
• Percussion II: Bass Drum

Additional Parts:

• 2 Eb Horn I-III's
• 2 Eb Horn II-IV's
• 2 Bb Trombone I's
• 2 Bb Trombone II's
• 2 Bb Trombone III's
• Bb Euphonium (B.C. + T.C.)
• Eb Bass + Bb Bass (B.C. + T.C.)

Includes conductor's score and parts.