Legends Antonin Dvorak Set for Double Wind Quintet & Contrabassoon by Tony Turrill Orchestrated for either:- 2 Flutes (2nd doubling Piccolo), 2 Oboes (2nd doubling Cor Anglais), 2 Clarinets in A & Bb (2nd doubling Bass Clarinet), 2 Bassoons, 2 Horns and a Contra bassoon or 2 Flutes (2nd doubling Piccolo), 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets in A & Bb, 2 Bassoons, 2 Horns and a Contra bassoon   The first arrangement, in which the cor and bass clarinet are used in three movements, is preferred but recognising that not all groups will have them, available parts and score for the second combination are always  included. Please note either both cor and bass clarinet must be used or neither. There are substantial differences between  the two versions.    If you would like to hear some computer generated  excerpts from each movement in turn,  click on the quaver         sign.  It may take a few seconds to load your windows media player   In 1880/1881, Dvorak originally wrote these legends as ten pieces for two pianos.  In this they resemble the perhaps more well known Slavonic Dances. A second similarity is in the wealth of memorable melodies they contain. They were dedicated to the Viennese  music critic Hanslick who enthusiastically commented "perhaps this one is the most beautiful of all the ten or perhaps another one. Opinions may differ in this respect but one opinion will be general and common to all  - :that all of them are beautiful!  Again, as with the dances,  Dvorak later rescored them for orchestra, the final version being first performed in 1882. However, this version is based on the piano score. The instrumentation used is a double wind  quintet with an added contra bassoon and the second flute occasionally doubles piccolo. In movements 2, 4 & 9, the second oboe plays cor anglais and the second  clarinet plays bass.  These are the preferred arrangements but, if this is impossible, alternatives using oboe and normal clarinet are provided.  N.B. the alternatives will only work as scored, use either the first with both cor and bass or the second with neither.  The contrabassoon is not ad lib,  if all attempts to locate one  fail, a double bass might just be used.   The metronome markings and tempi indications throughout are Dvorak's. The work is  substantial, it will take around 40 minutes to perform without break, although a performance of a selection from the 10 movements would certainly be possible as the movements stand alone. They are:- 1. Andantino non troppo, quasi andantino 2. Molto moderato 3. Allegro giusto 4. Molto maestoso 5. Allegro giusto 6. Allegro con moto                                              7. Allegretto grazioso 8. Un poco allegretto e grazioso, quasi andantino 9. Andante con moto 10. Andante The size of the score is such that it is not possible to provide extensive examples of all the movements, each having several themes. The snippets you have been listening to are from the openings of each movement.  return to top