March of the Priests, from the Magic Flute (string trio)

Title: March of the Priests, from the opera The Magic Flute

Composer: W. A. Mozart, arr. David Gable

Instrumentation: Violin 1; Violin 2/Viola; Cello

Printout: 2 pages

Note: The Magic Flute is Mozart’s last, and by many assessments finest, opera. Premiered in 1791, the opera had over 100 performances in its first run, an unprecedented feat for the time. In performance after performance the audience demanded multiple encores, and Mozart himself was often in the audience (though he died mid-way through the opera’s run). The March of the Priests exemplifies Mozart’s ability to say much with little. A short piece of simple structure, it perfectly captures the serene majesty of Sarastro and his priests. The first violin part may be performed on either flute or oboe.