Arthur Bird (July 23, 1856 - Dec. 22, 1923) was an American composer, pianist, organist, and violinist. His father was a musician, and Bird started studying music at an early age. He first performed in public as an organist in a church at age fifteen.

Bird grew up in America, but spent two years studying in Berlin starting in 1875, and when he returned, he picked up a position as a choirmaster and organist, and taught piano at a seminary. Later on in 1885 and 1886, he spent time in Weimar with Franz Liszt. He took lessons with him, and they became friends as well.

In 1886, Bird's Carnival Scene was played at a festival in Sonderhausen, and was an immediate success. Liszt was especially impressed with the work, and tried to urge Bird to arrange the orchestral piece for piano.

This jolly work for full orchestra starts with the horns, followed by an oboe and flute answering their call, and the work goes in to a fun, happy go lucky type theme. It's boisterous and cheerful, and  even sounds comical. After the main material is presented, there are several small sections of secondary and tertiary material that aren't elaborated on very long before returning to the main theme, making this fun work seem slightly episodic in nature.

Here is a recording of this fun work for you to enjoy!

Louisville Orchestra