Don Quixote (Strauss)

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Don Quixote , Fantastic Variations on a Theme of Knightly Character, Op. 35 , is a tone poem by Richard Strauss for solo cello , solo viola and large orchestra . It is based on the novel Don Quixote de la Mancha by the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes . It is composed in the form of a Sinfonia concertante , with a solo cello representingthe figure of Don Quixote and viola, tenor tuba and bass clarinet soloists representing Sancho Panza .

Strauss composed the work in Munich in 1897 .

The first performance took place on March 8, 1898 in Gürzenich , Cologne . It was conducted by Franz Wüllner .

The score does not originally contain a program , but the composer has subsequently written short programmatic explanations for the individual sections of the work for better understanding.

The second variation describes an episode in which Don Quixote encounters a flock of sheep and thinks it is an approaching army. Strauss uses dissonant fluttering tongues to imitate the bleating of the sheep. This is one of the earliest occurrences of this playing technique.

Instrumentation

The work is as follows: flute piccolo , 2 flutes , 2 oboes , English horn , 2 clarinets in Bb (2nd also in E-flat), bass clarinet , 3 bassoons , contrabassoon , 6 horns in F, 3 trumpets in D, 3 trombones , tenor tuba ( Euphonium ) in Bb, bass tuba , timpani , triangle , bass drum , cymbals , snare drum , tambourine , wind machine , harp and strings .

sentences

  1. Introduction: Moderate timing - Don Quixote loses his mind reading the chivalric novels and decides to become a knight himself
  2. Theme. Moderate - Don Quixote, the knight of the sad figure
  3. Maggiore - Sancho Panza
  4. Variation I: Leisurely - Adventure at the windmills
  5. Variation II: Warlike - The victorious fight against the army of the great emperor Alifanfaron
  6. Variation III: Moderate time - conversation between knight and squire
  7. Variation IV: Slightly wider - Unfortunate adventure with a procession of penitents
  8. Variation V: Very Slow - The Gun Guard
  9. Variation VI: Fast - encounter with Dulzinea
  10. Variation VII: A little quieter than before - The ride through the air
  11. Variation VIII: Leisurely - The unfortunate journey on the Venetian boat
  12. Variation IX: Fast and stormy - fight against supposed magicians
  13. Variation X: Much wider - duel with the knight from the shining moon
  14. Finale: Very calm - came back to your senses

literature

  • Alfred Beaujean: Don Quixote. In: Wulf Konold (Ed.): Lexicon Orchestermusik Romantik S – Z. Schott / Piper, Mainz / Munich 1989, ISBN 3-7957-8228-7 , pp. 906-908.
  • Mathias Hansen (Ed.): Richard Strauss. The symphonic poems. Bärenreiter, Kassel 2003, ISBN 978-3-7618-1468-0 .
  • Rudolf Kloiber : Handbook of Symphonic Poetry. 3. Edition. Breitkopf & Härtel, Wiesbaden 1990 (1967), ISBN 3-7651-0018-8 , pp. 166-173.
  • Herwarth Walden: Don Quixote, op.35, explained . (= Music guide; No. 148). Schlesinger, Berlin 1900 ( digitized version )

Web links