Dance of the Jesters, from The Snow Maiden – Rimsky-Korsakov (viola cello duo)

Title: Dance of the Jesters, from the opera The Snow Maiden

Composer: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, arr. David Gable

Instrumentation: Viola and Cello

Printout: 4 pages

Note: In the limited repertory for viola and cello, this arrangement is a stand-out. It’s rollicking, racing and  tumbling lines are evocative of acrobatic clowns, and it is sure to appeal to a wide array of listeners. Challenging to play, but worth the extra effort, it’s a great choice for celebratory events or light concert performance.

The audio sample includes the two primary themes.