Bizet - Mounted Guard from Carmen , arr. Marc Oliver for Concert Band

🎵 Listen Before You Buy

The Mounted Guard (Changement de la Garde) from Bizet’s Carmen is one of the opera’s most vivid and atmospheric orchestral passages — a brisk, march-like piece that captures the swagger and color of the soldiers’ procession in Act I with irresistible energy and melodic charm. Instantly recognizable to anyone who knows the opera, it makes an ideal standalone concert piece: compact, exciting, and full of the Mediterranean fire that makes Carmen one of the most beloved operas ever written. This edition, arranged by Marc Oliver, delivers a polished, performance-ready concert band score faithful to Bizet’s brilliant original.

About This Arrangement

• Arranged by Marc Oliver for concert band
• Engraved to professional performance standards
• Clean, readable notation optimized for print and on-screen use
• Ideal for operatic-themed programs, concert openers, and French repertoire
• A compact, high-impact piece suitable for a wide range of ensemble levels

What You’ll Receive

• Full conductor score (PDF)
• Individual band parts (PDF)
• Instant digital download — delivered immediately after purchase
• High-resolution print-ready file
• Unlimited personal printing rights

About Georges Bizet

Georges Bizet (1838–1875) was a French composer of the Romantic era whose gift for melody, dramatic instinct, and orchestral color placed him among the most naturally gifted composers of his generation. Carmen, premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in March 1875, was initially met with a mixed reception — but within years of Bizet’s death (just three months after the premiere) it had become one of the most performed operas in the world, a status it has never relinquished.

About the Arranger

Marc Oliver (1952–2017) was the primary arranger and engraver behind Ayotte Custom Musical Engravings during its founding, bringing decades of expertise in brass, band, and ensemble writing to every score. His arrangements are known for their idiomatic clarity, professional engraving quality, and deep respect for the performance traditions of the American concert band.

This is a digital product. No physical materials will be shipped. For personal and educational use only — not for resale or redistribution.