Set (Score & Parts)
Arranged in 2010 as a contest piece for Kanazawa Municipal Technical High School Symphonic Band in Ishikawa, Japan under the direction of Kin'ya Kosho.
Tosca is one of Giacomo Puccini's (1858-1924) major works, an opera in three acts. Based on Victorien Sardou's 1887 French-language dramatic play, La Tosca, it is a melodramatic piece set in Rome in June 1800, with the Kingdom of Naples'control of Rome threatened by Napoleon's invasion of Italy. Four of the main characters include: Cesare Angelotti, a republican political fugitive who escaped prison; Mario Cavaradossi, a painter and Angelotti's comrade; Floria Tosca, Cavaradossi's girlfriend and a cerebrated singer; and Baron Scarpia, the Chief of Police who oppresses republicanism and is attracted to Tosca.
Although Act 2, where Tosca stabs Scarpia to death, and Act 3, when Scarpia's subordinates rush to arrest Tosca for Scarpia's murder (as she leaps to her death) possess dazzling melodies, this arrangement focuses mainly on the drama of Act 1, where the main characters are introduced. Musically it is the most "symphonic" for the ensemble. I have tried to express and summarize the story in seven minutes (for use in the All Japan Band Competition).
The work consists of 5 sections: 1 the introduction of the opera,2 a duet by Tosca and Cavaradossi (scene 5),3 a scene where a fugitive Angelotti reunites with Tosca (scene 4), 4 the agony of Tosca when Scarpia fueled her jealousy (scene 9), 5 the Te Deum sung by the church attendees and Scarpia's monologue (Act 1 finale). These selected scenes resulted from many discussions between Mr. Kosho and the arranger. However, a consideration for this arrangement to be performed at regular concerts was that each scene featured one of the main characters.
(Yo Goto)
