Scaramouche
I. Vif
Scaramouche, suite for Alto Saxophone or Clarinet & Orchestra (piano reduction) by Darius Milhaud. 1st Movement: Vif.
The original conception for the Scaramouche suite was for piano duo, and Milhaud found writing for this medium particularly troublesome. Within a few years, Milhaud rearranged the piece for saxophone and orchestra and later for clarinet and orchestra which was performed by the alleged king of swing, Benny Goodman. A scaramouch was a stock character in such commedia dell arte, the character being a boastful coward. There is a light-heartedness about this music, but it is well crafted and the infectious rhythms and simple melodies made it one of Milhaud's most popular works.
The first movement uses an old English childrens count-down tune known as Ten green bottles hanging on a wall, a smaller version of 99 Bottles of Beer. The lively movement carries us immediately into the world of the flying servants, seemingly being everywhere at once!
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