Composer: M. Mussorgsky (1839-1881)
Duration: a. 2.5 minutes
Price: £17
Grade: 6-8+
Instrumentation: Brass Dectet (1st trumpet on Eb)

The Fair at Sorochinsky is a comic opera in 3 acts, which unfortunately remained unfinished and unperformed by Mussorgsky’s death in 1881. The work was later heavily adapted into a performable state in 1913.

Not a famous opera, this ‘Gopak’ is a very lively Russian dance which is perhaps the best known piece from the work. Rachmaninoff later made an arrangement of it for piano.

This arrangement was written after some students of mine had played a trumpet and piano version. I enjoyed it so much that once the Coronavirus pandemic caused lockdown it was on my list of fun arrangements to begin! It would be suitable as a finale item for any concert programme.

Also Available in:

10 Trumpet Ensemble

Sample Audio:

Sample Score: