Scaramouche
III. Brazileira
Scaramouche, suite for Alto Saxophone or Clarinet & Orchestra (piano reduction) by Darius Milhaud. 3rd Movement: Brazileira.
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.
In the third movement, we seem to journey to South America, where Milhaud had served earlier his life when he was secretary to Paul Claudel, the French Ambassador to Brazil. This is probably the most familiar melody from this suite.
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