Skocna
Bedřich Smetana (arr. Owen Meldon)
Subtitle: Dance of the Comedians
General Info
Year: 1866 / 2024
Duration: c. 5:00
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Orchestra
Publisher: Newo Press
Cost: Score and Parts (digital) - $200.00 | Score Only (digital) - $45.00
Instrumentation
- Full Score
- Piccolo
- Flute I-II
- Oboe
- Bassoon I-II
- E-flat Soprano Clarinet
- B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III-IV
- B-flat Bass Clarinet
- B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
- B-flat Soprano Saxophone
- E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
- B-flat Tenor Saxophone
- E-flat Baritone Saxophone
- Horn in F I-II-III-IV
- B-flat Trumpet I-II-II
- Trombone I-II
- Bass Trombone
- Euphonium
- Tuba
- Double Bass
- Timpani
- Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:
- *Bass Drum
- *Chimes
- *Crash Cymbals
- *Glockenspiel
- *Snare Drum
- *Suspended Cymbal
- *Triangle
Program Notes
Bedřich Smetana's Prodaná nevěsta (The Bartered Bride) is the first notable Czech-language opera to achieve worldwide recognition, marking a significant moment for both opera as an art form as well as the composer. Smetana, today known primarily for his symphonic poem Vltava (The Moldau) from his cycle Má vlast (My Fatherland), composed The Bartered Bride as his debut into comedic opera. Premiering in 1866 and revised in 1870, the opera was a smashing success and was performed more than one hundred times during Smetana's lifetime, including several performances abroad.
The term "skočná" comes from the Czech word "skočit," meaning "jump". In the third act of the opera, the Skočná is performed by a traveling circus troupe entertaining the local village. Serving as a metaphor for the liberation from societal expectations surrounding marriage, parenthood, and employment, the Skočná is a light-hearted contrast from the prior two acts of the opera that focus on the conflict between Vašek and his bride-to-be Mařenka. Vašek, mesmerized by circus dancer Esmerelda, discovers a sense of freedom when the circus arrives. Inspired by the liberating feeling, he decides to leave his village life and his arranged marriage behind to join the traveling troupe.
A mainstay in modern orchestral repertoire alongside the opera's overture, Polka and Furiant, the Skočna remains one of Smetana's most performed works. In this arrangement for wind ensemble, the piece's lively character is retained as a robust woodwind section assumes the roles of both the strings and woodwinds from the original orchestration. Additional percussion instruments enhance the performance, adding depth and vividly portraying each circus performer in small vignettes.
This arrangement is dedicated with immense gratitude to a good friend of mine, who also is a big fan of the opera and this piece in particular, Brandon Burchard.
- Program Note by arranger
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
Works for Winds by This Composer
Adaptable Music
- Vltava (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Ehara) (1874/2014)
All Wind Works
- Galopp Bajadérek (arr. Belohoubek) (1998)
- Chor der Landleute (arr. Wagner) (/2001)
- Dance of the Comedians (arr. Foster) (1994)
- Fanfares (arr. Nelhybel) (1872/1976)
- The High Castle
- Jirinkova Polka (arr. Kitano) (1840/2018)
- Louisina Polka (arr. Kitano) (1840/2017)
- The Moldau (arr. Cacavas, rev. Rogers) (1874/1999)
- The Moldau (arr. Just) (1874/2021)
- Overture to "Libusse"
- Overture to "The Bartered Bride" (arr. Bělohoubek) (1866)
- Overture to "The Bartered Bride" (tr. Patterson) (1866)
- Polka (arr. Parks) (1866/2008)
- Polka and Finale (arr. Beres) (1998)
- Skočná (Dance of the Comedians) (arr. Meldon) (1866/2024)
- Symphonic March (arr. Van der Beek) (1859/1993)
- Three Dances from "The Bartered Bride" (tr. Kline) (1866/)
- Three Revolutionary Marches (arr. Nelhybel) (1848/1969)
- Vltava (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Ehara) (1874/2014)
- Wallenstein's Camp
Resources
- Owen Meldon website. Accessed 2 June 2025