Dance of the Hours, from La Gioconda (string quartet)

Title: Dance of the Hours, from the opera La Gioconda

Composer: Amilcare Ponchielli, arr. David Gable

Instrumentation: Violin 1; Violin 2; Viola; Cello

Printout: 7 pages

Note: First brought to public attention by Disney, then used by Allan Sherman in his famous “Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah,” the Dance of the Hours is one of the most recognized ballet numbers in the opera repertory. The first and best known section (minus the long introduction) is presented here. The first violin part can be performed on flute by omitting two double stops.