Emmerich Kalman, the composer of this piece, was born in Hungary in 1882. He studied law at the University of Budapest and counterpoint and composition at the Budapest Academy of Music, where he was classmates with Bartok and Kodaly. Kalman flourished in Vienna, but with the rise of the Nazis, he fled to the United States. His works gained popularity on Broadway and in Hollywood. The period during which operettas in America were incorporating jazz elements to evolve into "classical musicals" coincided perfectly with his career. In his later years, he moved to Paris, where he passed away in 1953.
"Die Zirkusprinzessin" (The Circus Princess) was composed in 1926 and premiered in Vienna. The story is set in Russia, where Duchess Fedora, who has inherited her late husband's fortune, is pressured to remarry a Russian man to protect her wealth. The tale unfolds around her romantic entanglements with "Mr. X," a circus star who is actually a noble heir, Grand Duke Sergius, the owner of the Hotel "Grand Duke Carl," and his son Tony. Fedora falls in love with the seemingly lower-class "Mr. X," but it is eventually revealed that he is of noble birth, leading to a happy union.
This selection for wind ensemble was arranged in 2010 through the initiative of Mr. Seiji Miura, director at Higashi Minato Junior High School in Nagoya, with the cooperation of Mr. Takeshi Inou from Meisei Gakuin High School.
The arrangement makes liberal use of motifs from the original, including the "Prelude," "Circus Scene," "Musical Scene," and "Duet and Finale." Most numbers use only fragments of the original, making this one of the most freely adapted pieces in the "Selection" series. Therefore, it is intended to be performed as an auditory drama rather than closely adhering to the original.
Performance Notes
Opening Choices - this arrangement offers three options for the opening:
1) Perform as written in the score.
2) Start from rehearsal mark [A] (Opening A).
3) Start from an alternative pattern at the end of the score and proceed to rehearsal mark [B] (Opening B).
Options 1) and 3) are recorded on the CD "The World of Eiji Suzuki Vol. 2" (BOCD-7323).
Piano and Celesta: Play the notated pitches exactly as written, regardless of whether the instrument is a piano or celesta. Do not transpose an octave up or down.
Musical Interpretation: It is crucial for the performer (conductor) to find a convincing continuity and structure. Pay attention to how transitions between the many small sections are handled (e.g., not letting the music break at a fermata, but rather thinking about how to connect the music at a fermata). Variations in tempo can create musical tension and continuity. Overall, aim for a performance that is not overly serious but filled with a joyful, songful atmosphere.
(Eiji Suzuki)
