The Carnival of the Animals (the original uses two pianos). Saint-Saëns did specify in his will that the work should be published posthumously. Following his death in December 1921, the work was published by Durand in Paris in April 1922 and the first public performance was given on 25 February 1922 by Concerts Colonne (the orchestra of Édouard Colonne). "Carnival" has since become one of Saint-Saëns's best-known works, played by the original eleven instrumentalists, or more often with the full string section of an orchestra. Normally a glockenspiel substitutes for the rare glass harmonica. Ever popular with music teachers and young children, it is often
Mainz carnival to use for the next 50 years. In later years many new associations arose: the "Mombacher Carneval Verein" (1886), the "Gonsenheimer Carneval Verein" (1892) and the Carnival association „Eiskalte Brüder“ (1893). As Guards, the "Mainzer Prinzengarde" (1884), the "Prinzessgarde" (1886), renamed in 1933 as "Guard of the Princess", the "Mombacher Prinzengarde" (1886) and the "Jocus-Garde" (1889) were added. Traditionally, carnival season in Mainz begins on November 11 at 11:11, and continues through Ash Wednesday. However, the event peaks in February or March in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday. During the 19th century celebrants began using the carnival as