The Nutcracker
Spurwink River Publishing’s version of Tchaikowsky’s Ballet, The Nutcracker, continues to be the best arrangement available that utilizes an orchestra smaller than the original, with clear, easy-to-read parts and matching score.
Dr. Lawrence Golan, and his associate, Joanne S. Woodward, spent four years working on Tchaikowsky’s Ballet, The Nutcracker, to make the parts and score available to an orchestra more able to fit into today’s orchestra pits and ballet budgets. By carefully going through the parts and cleverly rearranging them, all facets are covered and nothing is left out, yet there are fewer wind, brass and percussion parts.
The matching score and parts have been produced with the Finale music notation program. Parts are printed on 9½ by 12 inch, 60-weight velum. The score is in two books on 80-weight velum with perfect binding and a final size each of 11 by 13.5 inches.
Parts have been carefully set up for easy reading and page turning.
The Nutcracker is available only as a printed document at this time.
Lawrence Golan’s reduction of the Nutcracker cleverly and efficiently re-orchestrates the work without sacrificing the tone color of Tchaikovsky’s original score. Despite the use of smaller forces, one is hard pressed to hear the difference in performance.
We have frequently used Lawrence Golan’s reduced orchestration of The Nutcracker since 2003, both for complete performances of the ballet as well as excerpts in concert. We remain deeply impressed with Mr Golan’s imaginative re-thinking as well as its marvelous effectiveness in performance –which is why we continue to play it so often. It is a valuable contribution to the repertoire, and we can recommend it unconditionally.
For the last couple of years one of our players has played this version of the Nutcracker, and really enjoyed it, so we thought to use this version to introduce to the university students.
Score includes two books, Act I and Act II
Parts included are:
- Flute I
- Flute II / Piccolo
- Oboe I
- Oboe II / English Horn
- Clarinet I
- Clarinet II / Bass Clarinet
- Bassoon I
- Bassoon II
- Horn I
- Horn II
- Horn III
- Trumpet I
- Trumpet II
- Trombone I
- Trombone II
- Bass Trombone
- Tuba
- Percussion I
- Timpani / Percussion II
- Celesta / Percussion III
- Harp
- Chorus
- Violin I (6 parts)
- Violin II (5 parts)
- Viola (4 parts)
- Cello (3 parts)
- Bass (2 parts)