The Carnival of the Animals The Carnival of the Animals The Carnival of the Animals (Le carnaval des animaux) is a humorous musical suite of fourteen movements by the French Romantic composer Camille Saint-Saëns. The work was written for private performance by an "ad hoc" ensemble of two pianos and other instruments, and lasts around 25 minutes. Following a disastrous concert tour of Germany in 1885–86, Saint-Saëns withdrew to a small Austrian village, where he composed "The Carnival of the Animals" in February 1886. It is scored for two pianos, two violins, viola, cello, double bass, flute (and piccolo), clarinet (C and B), glass harmonica,
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