Description

PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY: Pas de Deux, from The Nutcracker
Arranged for bassoon quartet by Michael A. Grant
 
Tchaikovsky was a highly prolific composer in the romantic era, and is especially remembered for his ballet scores. ‘The Nutcracker’ is perhaps the most well-known of these, due partly to the enduring popularity of the suite of music that Tchaikovsky extracted from it. The ‘Pas de Deux’, which occurs near the end of the second act, provides some of the most touching music from the score as the Sugar Plum Fairy dances with her Cavalier.
 
This arrangement can be performed as a bassoon quartet or (by eliminating the optional 4th part) as a trio.