Dionysiaques Op. 62 Florent Schmitt / Arr. Felix Hauswirth

One of the most fascinating and forward-looking works in the concert band repertoire was penned by Florent Schmitt back in 1913/14. Dionysiaques, Op. 62 was composed for France's elite Garde Républicaine Band, which premiered the work in 1925.

Dionysiaques is a brilliant, 11-minute tour de force that takes the listener on an incredible sound journey. Although the work is not really programmatic, its title suggests a Dionysian orgy, which is fully realized in the intensity of the music with its interesting contrasts: brooding chromaticism alternating with thrilling tutti climaxes.

The composer Pierre-Octave Ferroud, one of Schmitt's pupils, sensed in the work the overflowing of sap in springtime.

Moreover, the score has an intriguing orchestration, calling for several unusual instruments such as the sarrusophone, bass saxophone, pedal clarinets and even double basses!

Like many of Schmitt's compositions, the music is a challenge for performers, which may partially explain why it took many decades for Dionysiaques to become a staple of the concert band repertoire.