Jeffrey E. Turner

Ravel wrote the Mother Goose Suite for two children who were very special to him. His fascination with the wonder and imagination of childhood are evident in this piece. This arrangement will take your young band on a journey through the enchanted world of fairy tales—from the reflective “Sleeping Beauty Pavane,” to the playful “Tom Thumb,” the exotic “Empress of the Pagoda,” through the courtship of “Beauty and the Beast,” and concluding where all fairy tales must, with a happily-ever-after ending in “The Fairy Garden.” This piece is an excellent vehicle for featuring your soloists, and the well-crafted orchestration will showcase the wealth of sound and colors in any band. Being generously cued, even smaller bands will be able to enjoy Ravel’s music. Mother Goose Suite is sure to delight the little child in all of us.