Andante Festivo

Andante Festivo (1922)

Jean Sibelius (1865 – 1957)

Saxophone Choir

with optional timpani

Andante Festivo by Jean Sibelius arranged for saxophone choir. This work is a single movement composition by Jean Sibelius written in 1922 originally scored for string quartet. In 1938, the composer arranged it for string orchestra and timpani. Full-voiced and sonorous, Andante Festivo is constructed as a smooth, continuous stream of melodic phrases that flow in and out of each other. This arrangement is for saxophone choir SAATTBBs with optional timpani. Substitute parts are included for soprano and bass saxes to allow flexibility in your ensemble. This arrangement includes the following parts

• Soprano Sax
• Alto Sax substitute for Soprano
• Alto Sax 1-2
• Tenor Sax 1-2
• Bari Sax
• Bass Sax, Bari Sax Substitute for Bass Sax
• Timpani (optional)

The original work for strings is set in the key of G major. This setting for saxophone choir has been transposed down to B flat major. An alto sax substitute for soprano sax part is provided but not shown in the score. No altissimo is required of any player and each part covers a moderate range. The piece may be performed without the timpani and bass sax/bari substitute but it is much more effective with them.

• The range for each saxophone part is shown below.
• Audio and score excerpts are available above.
• Registered users can download a complete sample score and full length audio file of Andante Festivo on the ‘Samples’ tab.