Macbeth (Strauss)

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Macbeth (op. 23, TrV 163) is the first tone poem by Richard Strauss , which he wrote from 1886 to 1888. There are three versions of the work. The first version, completed on January 9, 1888, ended with a triumphal march by Macduff, which was presumably preceded by a musical representation of the battle between him and Macbeth. After Hans von Bülow criticized this ending as programmatically wrong, Strauss reworked the piece, erasing the battle music and the triumphal march. The score pages 76 to 91 of the first version have been separated; of them, only pages 76/77 and 86-90 are known to date. The second version with the new ending was completed on February 8, 1888. However, it was first performed by Strauss on October 13, 1890 in Weimar, and as a result the composer reworked his work. The form remained untouched, while the composition and instrumentation were thoroughly revised with the aim of greater plasticity. On March 4, 1891, the third version was finally ready. It was published in print by Aibl Verlag in the same year and was premiered on February 29, 1892 in Berlin with the Philharmonic under the direction of Strauss.

Orchestration

The cast is comprised of 3 flutes (the third voice with a doubling piccolo occupied), 2 oboe , English horn , 2 clarinets , bass clarinet , 2 bassoon , Kontrafagott , 4 horns , 3 trumpets , tuba , 3 trombone , tuba , drums , bass drum , snare drum , cymbals , tam-tam and strings .

sentences

All parts flow into one another.

  • Allegro, un poco maestoso.
  • Invigorating.
  • Furioso.
  • Presto.
  • Moderato maestoso.
  • Allegro, un poco maestoso.
  • Molto agitato.
  • Allegro, un poco maestoso.