Fantasy on Capriccio Italien - Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Capriccio Italien was based on Italian folk songs and was composed by Tchaikovsky in 1880. The work was inspired by his trip to Rome. This fantasy utilizes the capriccio's themes in order to capture the essence of Tchaikovsky's music for concert band. Although technically reduced for medium to medium-easy ensembles, it still retains all the fire and energy of the masterwork. This is a wonderful selection to not only introduce a classical composer but to also work on phrasing, balance, and dynamic contrasts.