Africa, Op. 89: Full Orchestra, Solo Keyboard with Ensemble, Conductor Score

Following the death of his mother in 1888, a depressed Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) decided to take a trip to his favorite destination, North Africa, travelling to Ceylon, then to Alexandria and Cairo over the period of several months. While he was in Egypt, he composed his fantasia for piano and orchestra, AFRICA, Op. 89. Dedicated to pianist Marie-Aimée Roger-Miclos, it premiered on October 25, 1891, with the dedicatee playing the solo, and the work was an immediate success both at the premiere and after, which pleased Saint-Saëns a great deal to the point that he considered AFRICA a signature work. Borrowing themes and techniques from North African music, the fantasy draws on material he heard in Algeria and Egypt, offering an exotic sound to those listening in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This concertante is notable also as one of the first works to be recorded with the composer as soloist, with a surviving 1904 recording with Saint-Saëns at the piano. This colorful piece continues to be performed regularly today. Reprint edition. Instrumentation: 2.2.2.2: 2.0+2.3.0: Timp.Perc(2): Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set): Solo Piano.