Mazurkas
Carmelita, Op.152, Ms. Civ 84
The only surviving score of Carmelita is a copy from the era of Raffaele Coppola. The entire A-flat clarinet part has been rendered for a D-flat piccolo, and the expected E-flat cornet part to be played by an advanced student is missing. It is obviously a late work as it does not appear in any concerts until 1871, making it one of Ponchielli's last dance compositions for the band. The likely late date of the copy suggests that the autograph remained in Cremona, but was lost or found unusable. Another sign of its late composition is the instrumentation - two flugelhorns, only four trumpets (one migrated to flugelhorn), and three tubas. The triangle is also indicative of later works as well. Due to FINALE problems, the triangle part is performed by a B-flat on a glockenspiel.
While Carmelita is an engaging work, its chief interest lies in Ponchielli's mature handling of the dance style of his day. Letters from Ponchielli to his friend Bartolo Piatti suggest an infatuation that preceded his meeting of his wife, Teresina Brambilla. Perhaps this work is a result of this earlier infatuation, viz., L'Eco del Castello, composed only a year earlier.
Date on score: None given
Performances: Sunday, November 19, 1871, Piazza Cavour; Sunday, March 3, 1872, Piazza Cavour; Thursday, September 11, 1873, Piazza Roma; Saturday, September 13, 1873, Piazza Roma