Finale from Symphony No. 2

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Arranged by Noah Braun

Difficulty: Grade 2.5 (Intermediate Middle School / Developing High School)

Duration: 3:15

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (1745–1799) was a true Enlightenment-era Renaissance man: a virtuoso violinist, a champion fencer, a military commander, and one of the first known classical composers of African descent. Written around 1775, his Symphony No. 2 in D Major also served double duty as the energetic overture to his only surviving opera, L'Amant Anonyme (The Anonymous Lover).

This third movement, Presto, is a textbook example of the joyful, driving Style Galant. This arrangement brings the thrilling theatricality of the French classical stage directly to the developing string orchestra. Stripped of its original wind parts, the texture has been completely collapsed into the string family, offering a magnificent pedagogical tool for teaching crisp detaché bowing, sudden classical dynamic contrasts, and rhythmic precision in a quick 6/8 meter.

Director and Pedagogical Notes

Expanding the Canon and Inclusive Repertoire: This arrangement serves as an essential bridge for introducing students to the brilliant music of historical composers of color, filling a significant gap found in traditional string curricula and allowing ensembles to explore the diverse reality of music history.
Classical Style and Articulation: An exceptional vehicle for teaching the crisp, light, and elegant bow strokes inherent to the late 18th-century Classical style, challenging players to master detaché and spiccato while maintaining absolute rhythmic clarity.
Sustained Phrasing and Dynamic Contrast: Perfect for developing classical ensemble balance and dynamic sensitivity, requiring students to execute sudden piano/forte shifts and smooth, singing phrases that highlight the dramatic architecture of the piece.

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