Soldiers’ Chorus (Part I – “Or co’ dadi”), from Il Trovatore (cello duo)

Title: Soldiers’ Chorus (Part I – “Or co’ dadi”), from the opera Il Trovatore

Composer: Giuseppe Verdi, arr. David Gable

Instrumentation: Two Cellos

Printout: 4 pages

Note: The curtain rises at the beginning of Act III of Verdi’s Il Trovatore (“The Troubadour”) to reveal the camp of Count di Luna’s army, the soldiers singing Or co’ dadi (“now we play at dice”) as they prepare themselves for battle. Despite its seemingly grim context, Or co’ dadi is a cheerful, march-like piece. It is well suited for wedding receptions, parties, and other celebratory events.

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More Verdi for two cellos:

Grand March, from Aida
La donna è mobile, from Rigoletto
Un di felice, eterea, from La Traviata
Va Pensiero, from Nabucco