Symphony No. 2, Mvt. 3 Scherzo

Symphony No. 2 in E-Flat Major (1856) was strongly influenced by Gounod’s immediate predecessors of the era. The third movement Scherzo, is light and almost whimsical in form. The piece must be kept light and not rushed and held at a steady tempo. Its overall length can be adjusted by selecting the use of the repeats, depending on its placement in the program. This work provides many opportunities for the ensemble members to play in tight unison, as in the opening eight notes, and in the many rhythmic and winding passages throughout the rest of the work, once again demonstrating the orchestra-like qualities of the classical saxophone ensemble.