Programming for an Orchestra #2 - Halloween Special

“Programme Macabre” for Halloween

With Halloween coming up, I decided to put a possible concert program together.It has no intermission and is made of shorter pieces. In my opinion, concerts in special occasions or holidays, like Xmas and Halloween, should be aimed and marketed to a different audience. One that usually doesn't attend a concert hall except in these occasions. Following this train of thought, this program also allows for the conductor (or somebody else) to talk about the music that is about to be played. To the ones that don’t consume classical music on a regularly basis, this can make the concert experience more enjoyable.It is an expensive program budget wise, but all the music is thematically intertwined in more ways than one, have a very similar orchestration (4 bassons in 3 of them!!!) and give a an extra reason to add Le Chasseur Maudit which is rarely played (I don't know why that is, that piece is wonderful)!Below I also add smaller pieces that can be a great opener or encore.Let me know your ideas for Halloween! I would love to hear from you!

2 2 2 2 - 4 2 3 0 - tmp - str

*3 2 2 2 - 4 2 3 1 - tmp+3 - (opt hp) - str

*3 2 *3 *4 - 4 4 3 0 - tmp+4 - hp - str

*3 2 2 4 - 4 4 3 1 - tmp - str

*2 *2 +2 4 - 4 4 3 2 - 4tmp, 2perc - 2hps - str

Carl Maria von Weber : Der Freischütz - Overture - 10´

Camille Saint-Saëns - Danse Macabre - 8’

Paul Dukas - The Sorcerer's Apprentice - 11’

César Franck - Le Chasseur Maudit - 14’

Hector Berlioz: "Symphonie Fantastique" - 5th Mvt - 9’

Total time - 52’