The Dance of the Buffoons is one of the choreographic interludes form the opera The Snow Maiden, founded upon Ostrovsky's poetic legend of springtime, and an opera which is regarded by many as being most characteristic of the composer. Like many operatic interludes, this has found a distinguished place in literature of the concert hall. This arrangement demands from all players a musical senstivity and technical proficiency which will provide a challenge to the finest of clarinet choirs. Instrumentation: Ab Sopranino Clarinet (opt.), Eb Clarinet, 3 Bb Clarinets, Basset Horn in F (opt.), Eb Alto Clarinet, Bb Bass Clarinet, Eb Contra Alto Clarinet (opt.), and Bb Contrabass Clarinet (opt.)