Charles Gounod

Themes From Faust

Charles Gounod was a prolific French composer in the mid 1800' s, but he was not well recognized by his peers or the public until his opera Faust was first performed in Paris in 1859. The opera remains today as one of the most dramatic and popular in the repertoire. This arrangement for strings includes three of the themes in the opera; a staccato dance in duple meter, followed by a ballroom waltz in the Viennese style, ending with a grand march. Keys are G and D major. Cellos need to be comfortable in 3rd and 4th position, and 2nd violins and violas need to play divisi passages. First violins will be challenged by some of the technique but all problems can be solved and will be quite rewarding with sufficient practice. This is music by a master composer that young people should experience.