Carnival of Venice (song)

The Carnival of Venice, is a folk tune^[1] popularly associated with the words "My hat, it has three corners" (or in German, Mein Hut, der hat drei Ecken). A series of theme and variations has been written for solo trumpet, as "show off" pieces that contain virtuoso displays of double and triple tonguing, and fast tempos.

Many variations on the theme have been written, most notably those by Jean-Baptiste Arban, Del Staigers, Herbert L. Clarke for the cornet, trumpet, and euphonium, Francisco Tárrega and Johann Kaspar Mertz for classical guitar, Ignace Gibsone and Louis Moreau Gottschalk for piano, and Giovanni Bottesini for double bass. Chopin's "Souvenir de Paganini", dedicated to the composer and violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini, is another variation on this theme. The popular novelty song, "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?", written and recorded in 1952, is based on the tune. A more recent piece making use of the theme, by Allen Vizzutti, called "The Carnival of Venus," is regarded as one of the most difficult trumpet pieces ever written due to range and technical demands.

The piece has also been arranged for tuba, notably played by John Fletcher and available on the CD The Best of Fletch. Also Roger Bobo on Tuba Libera (cd). Another tubist whose performance of the piece is noteworthy is Øystein Baadsvik, a Norwegian tubist.

Arrangements

• Paul Jeanjean (1874-1928): Venice Carnival (for clarinet)
• Paganini: The Carnival of Venice (for violin)
• Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909): Variations on Carnival of Venice (for guitar)
• Jean-Baptiste Arban (1825-1889): Variations on 'Carnival of Venice' (for trumpet)
• Elgar Howarth: The Carnival of Venice Variations (for Brass Ensemble)
• Mike Mower (b.1958): Deviations on the Carnival of Venice (for flute and piano)
• Wilhelm Posse (1852-1925): Variations on 'The Carnival of Venice' (for harp)
• Carlo Munier for mandolin and guitar
• Giulio Briccialdi Carnival of Venice for flute and orchestra Op.77
• Bob McChesney Variations on 'Carnival of Venice' for Trombone
• Giovanni Bottesini Introduction and Variations on Carnival of Venice (Double Bass)
• Ernesto Cavallini Carnival of Venice (Eb Clarinet)

Recorded versions

• "(The) Carnival of Venice", Arban, arr. James. Harry James and His Orchestra (Columbia 36004) 1941^[2][3]
• "Carnival of Venice", arr. Paganini, Zino Francescatti (Violin), Arthur Balsam (Piano) 1954
• "Carnival of Venice", Hank Snow guitar solo 1956
• "Carnival of Venice", arr. Frosini, Danny Kaye 1960
• "Carnival of Venice", arr. Tony Mottola, Tony Mottola And His Orchestra 1962
• "Carnival of Venice", arr. Jean Rolle, The Waikikis Netherlands 1963
• "Carnival of Venice", arr. Al Hirt, Al Hirt from Live at Carnegie Hall (Al Hirt album) 1965
• "Carnival of Venice, Goodnight Vienna" The Keith Newton Sound 1970
• "The Carnival of Venice Variations", arr. Elgar Howarth, Philip Jones Brass Ensemble 1975
• "Carnival of Venice", arr. Johnny Lo Piccolo for accordion Australia

Notes

1. Kinscella, Hazel Gertrude (2005). Music and Romance. Kessinger Publishing. p. 256. ISBN 978-1-4179-9594-3.
2. "COLUMBIA (Microphone label, USA) 36000 to 36500 Numerical Listing". 78discography.com. Retrieved 2016-01-02.
3. "Harry James And His Orchestra – Flight Of The Bumble Bee / The Carnival Of Venice". discogs.com. Retrieved 2016-02-17.