Le Carnaval de Venice

Le Carnaval de Venice by Jules Demersseman (1833-1866/arr. Hemke

Jules Demersseman was a flutist and composer who was born in Holland but studied in Paris. He was known to have lungs possessing impressive power and capacity, as well as fingers and tongue of incredible velocity. He dazzled audiences with lengthy cadenzas and pyrotechnics of his own writing, causing them to stand and shout with enthusiasm. Le Carnaval de Venice was written for Adolphe Mayeur, a music director of the Imperial Guard Band and an accomplished saxophone performer. Mayeur had been a student of Adolphe Sax. Published posthumously in 1867, Caranaval was first published by “House of Adolphe Sax.”