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Don Juan (Strauss)

Don Juan, Op. 20, is a tone poem in E major for large orchestra written by the German composer Richard Strauss in 1888. The work is based on Don Juans Ende, a play derived from an unfinished 1844 retelling of the tale by poet Nikolaus Lenau after the Don Juan legend which originated in Renaissance-era Spain.[1] Strauss reprinted three excerpts from the play in his score. In Lenau's rendering, Don Juan's promiscuity springs from his determination to find the ideal woman. Despairing of ever finding her, he ultimately surrenders to melancholy and wills his own death.[1] It is singled out by Carl Dahlhaus as a "musical symbol of fin-de-siècle modernism", particularly for the "breakaway mood" of its opening bars.[2]

Strauss in 1888, the year he composed Don Juan
Excerpt from a 1992 recording by the Frankfurt Radio Symphony conducted by Dmitri Kitayenko

The premiere of Don Juan took place on 11 November 1889 in Weimar, where Strauss, then twenty-five, served as Court Kapellmeister; he conducted the orchestra of the Weimar Opera.[3][4] The work, composed when Strauss was only twenty-four years old, became an international success and established his reputation as an important exponent of modernism.[3] Strauss often conducted the work in concerts during his long career, and the piece was part of the first recordings that he made in 1917.[4] The last time he conducted the work was in 1947 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra during his last tour outside of Germany.[3]

Although Don Juan was an undeniable triumph for Strauss, the work was not without its critics. Cosima Wagner, who was normally a supporter of Strauss and his music, despised the work because of its subject matter which did not rise to the metaphysical ideals of Wagner.[3] The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians states that "The aesthetics of Wagner and Liszt may have inspired him to embrace the extra-musical, but he refused to carry their torch for music as a sacred entity; the libertine Don (and Strauss with him) simply thumbs his nose at the world."[3]

Performances of the work last around eighteen minutes.[1] Excerpts from Don Juan are staples of professional orchestral auditions due to the numerous technical and musical demands on each instrument.[5]

Instrumentation edit

Don Juan is scored for an orchestra with the following instruments:

An orchestral score and a score for piano four hands was published by J. Aibl in Leipzig in 1890.

Themes, form, and analysis edit

 

The structure of Don Juan mirrors the dramatic arc of the poem Don Juans Ende by Nikolaus Lenau.[1] The music unfurls naturally as the plot divulges itself.[1] Strauss achieves this by a sophisticated merging of both rondo and sonata form principles.[3] Musicologists Bryan Gilliam and Charles Youmans described the work as containing "dazzling orchestration, sharply etched themes, novel structure and taut pacing" and being characterized by "flagrantly pictorial, humorous and altogether irreverent" music.[3]

 

At the beginning of the piece, Strauss uses a theme that is vigorous and spirited with the brass section making striking interjections. He moves away from this theme soon after to a solo violin playing a romance. The oboe is then heard playing a soothing melody that indicates a liaison between Don Juan and his lover. This moment is interrupted by dissonant horns, which counter with a heroic and self-assured theme. Strauss then weaves themes together in a repeated and intermingled orchestration. The work subsequently moves abruptly into a quiet melancholy which Strauss uses to illustrate the coming tragedy of Don Juan's fate. The piece ends wistfully, and not grandly, in keeping with Lenau's telling of the Don Juan tale. Don Juan, tired of running, resigns himself willingly in a duel and his life is taken by a sword wielded by his lover's father who is avenging his daughter's honor. The piece paints this picture with hushed tones like a dying breath.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Heninger, Barbara. . Archived from the original on 19 October 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  2. ^ Carl Dahlhaus, Nineteenth-Century Music, translated by J. Bradford Robinson (California Studies in 19th-Century Music 5) (Berkeley, Los Angeles, and London: University of California Press, 1989): 331, 334. ISBN 978-0-520-07644-0.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g * Gilliam, Bryan; Youmans, Charles (2001). "Richard Strauss". Grove Music Online. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.40117. (subscription required)
  4. ^ a b c Betsy Schwarm. "Don Juan, Op. 20, tone poem by Strauss". Encyclopædia Britannica.
  5. ^ Andrew Clements (May 29, 2014). "Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra; Don Juan; Till Eulenspiegel review – a showcase for CBSO's superb playing". The Guardian.

External links edit

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Don Juan Op 20 is a tone poem in E major for large orchestra written by the German composer Richard Strauss in 1888 The work is based on Don Juans Ende a play derived from an unfinished 1844 retelling of the tale by poet Nikolaus Lenau after the Don Juan legend which originated in Renaissance era Spain 1 Strauss reprinted three excerpts from the play in his score In Lenau s rendering Don Juan s promiscuity springs from his determination to find the ideal woman Despairing of ever finding her he ultimately surrenders to melancholy and wills his own death 1 It is singled out by Carl Dahlhaus as a musical symbol of fin de siecle modernism particularly for the breakaway mood of its opening bars 2 Strauss in 1888 the year he composed Don Juan source source Excerpt from a 1992 recording by the Frankfurt Radio Symphony conducted by Dmitri KitayenkoThe premiere of Don Juan took place on 11 November 1889 in Weimar where Strauss then twenty five served as Court Kapellmeister he conducted the orchestra of the Weimar Opera 3 4 The work composed when Strauss was only twenty four years old became an international success and established his reputation as an important exponent of modernism 3 Strauss often conducted the work in concerts during his long career and the piece was part of the first recordings that he made in 1917 4 The last time he conducted the work was in 1947 with the BBC Symphony Orchestra during his last tour outside of Germany 3 Although Don Juan was an undeniable triumph for Strauss the work was not without its critics Cosima Wagner who was normally a supporter of Strauss and his music despised the work because of its subject matter which did not rise to the metaphysical ideals of Wagner 3 The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians states that The aesthetics of Wagner and Liszt may have inspired him to embrace the extra musical but he refused to carry their torch for music as a sacred entity the libertine Don and Strauss with him simply thumbs his nose at the world 3 Performances of the work last around eighteen minutes 1 Excerpts from Don Juan are staples of professional orchestral auditions due to the numerous technical and musical demands on each instrument 5 Contents 1 Instrumentation 2 Themes form and analysis 3 References 4 External linksInstrumentation editDon Juan is scored for an orchestra with the following instruments Woodwinds 3 flutes 3rd doubling piccolo 2 oboes 1 English horn 2 clarinets in A 2 bassoons 1 contrabassoonBrass 4 horns in E 3 trumpets in E 3 trombones 1 tuba Percussion timpanitriangle cymbals glockenspielStrings harp violins I II violas celli double basses An orchestral score and a score for piano four hands was published by J Aibl in Leipzig in 1890 Themes form and analysis edit nbsp source Audio playback is not supported in your browser You can download the audio file The structure of Don Juan mirrors the dramatic arc of the poem Don Juans Ende by Nikolaus Lenau 1 The music unfurls naturally as the plot divulges itself 1 Strauss achieves this by a sophisticated merging of both rondo and sonata form principles 3 Musicologists Bryan Gilliam and Charles Youmans described the work as containing dazzling orchestration sharply etched themes novel structure and taut pacing and being characterized by flagrantly pictorial humorous and altogether irreverent music 3 nbsp At the beginning of the piece Strauss uses a theme that is vigorous and spirited with the brass section making striking interjections He moves away from this theme soon after to a solo violin playing a romance The oboe is then heard playing a soothing melody that indicates a liaison between Don Juan and his lover This moment is interrupted by dissonant horns which counter with a heroic and self assured theme Strauss then weaves themes together in a repeated and intermingled orchestration The work subsequently moves abruptly into a quiet melancholy which Strauss uses to illustrate the coming tragedy of Don Juan s fate The piece ends wistfully and not grandly in keeping with Lenau s telling of the Don Juan tale Don Juan tired of running resigns himself willingly in a duel and his life is taken by a sword wielded by his lover s father who is avenging his daughter s honor The piece paints this picture with hushed tones like a dying breath 4 References edit a b c d e Heninger Barbara Program notes for Redwood Symphony Archived from the original on 19 October 2014 Retrieved 9 March 2014 Carl Dahlhaus Nineteenth Century Music translated by J Bradford Robinson California Studies in 19th Century Music 5 Berkeley Los Angeles and London University of California Press 1989 331 334 ISBN 978 0 520 07644 0 a b c d e f g Gilliam Bryan Youmans Charles 2001 Richard Strauss Grove Music Online doi 10 1093 gmo 9781561592630 article 40117 subscription required a b c Betsy Schwarm Don Juan Op 20 tone poem by Strauss Encyclopaedia Britannica Andrew Clements May 29 2014 Strauss Also Sprach Zarathustra Don Juan Till Eulenspiegel review a showcase for CBSO s superb playing The Guardian External links editDon Juan Op 20 by Richard Strauss Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Portal nbsp Classical music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Don Juan Strauss amp oldid 1159434242, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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