Jeux d’enfants

Jeux d'enfants (Children's Games) Op. 22, is originally a suite of twelve miniatures composed by Georges Bizet for piano four hands in 1871. Bizet's biographer, Winton Dean, considers the suite to be a forerunner of similar childhood-related works by Debussy (Children’s Corner), Fauré (Dolly Suite), and Ravel (Mother Goose) – and one could hardly argue to the contrary. Dean writes that each movement "evokes a facet of childhood, but there is not a trace of triviality, self-consciousness or false sentiment." Bizet orchestrated these six movements for orchestra, arranged here for brass.

1. Trompette et tambour – marche (Trumpet and drum)
2. La poupée – berceuse (The Doll)
3. La toupie – impromptu (The Top)
4. Petit mari, petite femme – duo (Little husband, little wife)
5. Les chevaux de bois – scherzo (Rocking Horse)
6. Le bal – galop (The ball)

For 11-piece brass ensemble (423.11) and percussion

Instrumentation:

• Piccolo Trumpet 1 in B♭ 
• Piccolo Trumpet 2 in B♭  (doubles on E♭ Trumpet or E♭ Cornet)
• Trumpet 3 in B♭ (doubles on Flugelhorn)
• Flugelhorn
• 2 Horns
• 2 Trombones
• Bass Trombone
• Euphonium
• Tuba
• Percussion (Field Drum, Triangle, Xylophone, Sus. Cymbal, Temple Blocks, Whip )

This arrangement is part of our Boulder Brass Signature Series.