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MARCHETTI – Fascination (Valse Tzigane) – SIX CELLOS (OR CELLO ORCHESTRA)

Other Identification:
“Fascination” is a popular waltz song with music (1904) by Fermo Dante Marchetti and lyrics (1905) by Maurice de Féraudy (English lyrics by Dick Manning). Fermo Dante Marchetti (born Dante Pilade Marchetti, 28 August 1876 – 11 June 1940) was an Italian composer and songwriter, best known for the music for the song “Fascination”. He was born in Massa Carrara, Tuscany, Italy, and died in Paris, France.

“Fascination” gained international renown when used in the 1957 movie ‘Love in the Afternoon’ directed by Billy Wilder. Love in the Afternoon is a 1957 American romantic comedy film which stars Audrey Hepburn and Gary Cooper. The screenplay by Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond is based on the Claude Anet novel Ariane, “jeune fille russe” – Wilder was inspired by a 1931 German adaptation of the novel Ariane directed by Paul Czinner. This film has cemented the melody as an all-time great.

“Fascination” had been previously recorded by such diverse artists including: Dick Jacobs, Nat King Cole, Earl Grant and David Carroll, all of whose versions, except Grant, made the charts. The Melachrino Strings recorded an instrumental version of the song in London in January 1949, released by EMI on the His Master’s Voice label. Other instrumental versions included Paul Mauriat and Pete Fountain. In 1957, two of the most popular recordings of “Fascination” were released: that of Dinah Shore (reached charts number #15) and Jane Morgan (charted at number #7). In other languages Elis Regina recorded it for her album ‘Falso Brilhante’ (1976), and the song was also recorded in Portuguese and in Spanish in 1978 by Brazilian singer Jose Augusto. It is currently a favourite of the violinist André Rieu.

However, the melody was first featured in the 1933 film ‘The House on 56th Street’, adapted for the soundtrack of the 1946 film ‘The Diary of a Chambermaid’, and the theme was also used prominently in the b/w French film version of ‘Gigi’. Just a little before ‘Love in the Afternoon’ it was was also popularized in the 1955 movie ‘The Grand Maneuver’. A faster-tempo version of this song was featured in the first two Karate Kid films. “Fascination” was sung in the French film ‘La Vie en rose (La Môme)’. Fascination was also heard in Disney’s ‘Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo’, and the first episode of the HBO series ‘Boardwalk Empire’ featured an instrumental version of “Fascination”.

Movements or sections:
A melodic waltz, simply marked ‘Temo di Vals’

Instrumentation:
SEXTET OF SIX CELLOS, OR CELLO ORCHESTRA
Arranged by David Johnstone

This music is in 3 PDFs:
1 – General Score
2 – Cellos 1, 2, and 3
3 – Cellos 4, 5, and 6

Approximate difficulty:
This melody makes a wonderful cello ensemble piece. It is not only for musical reasons well suited to the violoncello – in the film ‘Love in the afternoon’ the protagonist is a young cello student Ariane Chavasse (played by Audrey Hepburn). In Johnstone’s transcription for SIX cellos or cello orchestra the aim has been to produce a convincing version without ever being over-demanding of the technical requirements, whilst at the same time giving melodic importance to all players – therefore all six parts enjoy regular prominence. The first part uses a comfortable thumb position; in case of difficulty three of the most ‘awkward’ passages may be performed an octave lower (marked in both score and part), however this is to be avoided if possible. In general, however, the work is well suited to medium level and amateur cellists, whilst making for rewarding performance for more professional ensembles. Enjoy the music!!

Dedicatee of this presentation (if applicable):
arranged for and produced for the “Cello Fascination Ensemble”, directed by the British-Italian cellist Christine Cullen

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