Salve Regina

‘Giacomo Puccini’s ‘Salve Regina’ is one of the earliest surviving songs by the Italian opera composer. In 2020, I arranged all of his ‘Cant’* for full orchestra; however, even in that version, the Salve Regina is performed solely by the wind instruments - including the double bass (as is customary in ‘Harmoniemusik’) and, in this instance, the timpani as well. The ‘Salve Regina’ was the only one of Puccini’s songs originally intended for the organ - the instrument of his youth. Through my choice of instrumentation, I sought to evoke that specific sound. To facilitate performances—particularly within the context of presenting my ‘Harmoniemusik’ arrangement of his early ‘Messa di Gloria’ - I have now created a second, slightly reduced version.’ (Johannes X. Schachtner)