Humming Chorus (1904)
from Madama Butterfly (Act 2)
Giacomo Puccini (1859 – 1924)
Saxophone Choir with Soloist

The famous Humming Chorus from Act 2 of Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini. This arrangement is for soprano sax solo with saxophone choir. Additional solo parts for alto sax and tenor sax are included. It is suggested that the additional solo parts be used when playing with a very large sax ensemble. The arrangement can be played in a smaller setting utilizing only the solo part (soprano, alto, or tenor) and SAATTB. Bari 2 and Bass Sax are optional.

The premiere of the Madama Butterfly was a complete fiasco. It was called “one of the most terrible flops in Italian opera history”. The opera has been criticized by some American intellectuals for orientalism. Despite these opinions, Madama Butterfly has been frequently performed in Japan in various adaptions from 1914 to great acclaim.

Today Madama Butterfly is the sixth most performed opera in the world and considered a masterwork. The “Humming Chorus” is the transition from act 2 to act 3.

Included with this arrangement of Humming Chorus from Madama Butterfly:

• Full saxophone ensemble score
• Solo parts for Soprano, Alto, or Tenor Saxophone
• Soprano Sax 2
• Alto Saxophones 1 – 2
• Tenor Saxophones 1 – 2
• Baritone Saxophone 1 – 2 (2 is bass sax double and optional)
• Bass Saxophone (optional)

The range for each saxophone part is illustrated below. A score excerpt and audio sample are available above.

About the Composer

Giacomo Puccini (22 December 1858 – 29 November 1924) was an Italian composer known primarily for his operas. He is regarded as the greatest and most successful proponent of Italian opera after Verdi. Though his early work was firmly rooted in traditional late-19th-century Romantic Italian opera, he later developed his work in the realistic verismo style, of which he became one of the leading exponents.

His most renowned works are La bohème (1896), Tosca (1900), Madama Butterfly (1904), and Turandot (1924), all of which are among the most frequently performed and recorded of all operas.