Camille Saint-Saëns was born in Paris in 1835 and was a musical prodigy from an early age. At only two years of age he began playing the piano, and at four he was already composing short pieces. His musical career took off quickly: at eleven he performed in public for the first time, achieving great success, and at thirteen he was admitted to the Conservatoire de Paris. In 1886 he composed two of his most famous works: the “Symphonie No. 3” and “Le Carnaval des Animaux” (“The Carnival of the Animals”).
The structure of “The Carnival of the Animals”
The work consists of 14 pieces, each representing an animal through specific instruments and melodies:
- The Lion: Solemn introduction with roars imitated by ascending and descending chromatic scales.
- Hens and Roosters: Violins, viola and clarinet imitate the squawking of the hen house.
- Emions: Wild donkeys are represented by fast arpeggios and scales.
- Turtles: Their slow pace is rendered with an ironic version of the famous “Can-Can.”
- Elephant: An awkward waltz interpreted by the double bass.
- Kangaroos and Aquarium: Hopping movements for the kangaroos and ethereal sounds for the aquarium.
- Long-eared Characters: Two violins take turns imitating the braying of donkeys.
- Cuckoo in the forest floor and the Aviary: The clarinet mimics the cuckoo’s cry, while the flute represents the birds flying.
- Pianists: Parody of beginning pianists, made to resemble trained monkeys.
- Fossils and Swan: The xylophone evokes the dry sound of fossil bones, while the cello intones the melancholy melody of the swan.
- Finale: A lively rondo brings all the animals together in a festive parade.
An opera loved by both children and adults
The Carnival of the Animals is certainly Saint-Saëns’ most famous and characteristic work. However, the composer banned the publication of the work during his lifetime because some of the pieces contained satirical references about figures in the Parisian musical milieu. It was not until 1922, a year after his death, that the piece was first performed publicly in Paris.
Very frequently, The Carnival of Animals is used in music schools to teach students to recognize the timbre of instruments, learn to listen carefully and develop knowledge of the basic elements of musical language. Some musical themes used are not original, but come from pieces by other musicians, contributing to the humorous and satirical vein of the work.
The Carnival of the Animals remains to this day, a masterpiece capable of conveying fun, irony and passion for music, ideal for transporting both children and adults into the magic of Carnival.
