Music AppreciationMusic AppreciationClass #13Class #13Richard Strauss, Sergi Rachmanioff, Igor Stravinsky, Karl Orff

Richard Strauss (1864-Richard Strauss (1864-1949)1949)

BiographyBiographyMusical family

Actively involved with the Dresden opera◦Wagner productions

Politically active◦3rd Reich

Also sprach Zarathustra Also sprach Zarathustra (1896)(1896)Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)◦“God is dead.” ◦Übermensch◦Mimics Christian & Jewish morality,

traditions

2001: A Space Odyssey◦1968

SalomeSalomeMark 6:21-29 & Matthew 14:6-11

Oscar Wilde◦Paris, 1891 In French?Prison!

CharactersCharactersHerod, King of Judea

(“Tetrarch”)

Herodias, his wife (former sister-in-law)

Salome, her daughter (14)

John the Baptist (“Jochanaan”)

Operatic/dramatic Operatic/dramatic problemsproblemsOrchestra

◦Wager +

Salome◦Vocally demanding

Look 14 years old Sexually attractive

◦The “Dance of the Seven Veils”

Censored!Censored!New York, 1907

◦Metropolitan Opera

Dress Rehearsal

◦Sunday afternoon Patrons = Astors, Vanderbilts Politicians

Opening Opening DayDay Reviews Reviews

“…one of the most horrible, disgusting, revolting and unmentionable exhibitions of

degeneracy I have ever heard, read or imagined...”

“…A sewer is a necessity of our everyday life, but the fact of its existence does not also

create the necessity for us to bend over its reeking filth and inhale its mephitic

vapours...”

Final sceneFinal sceneDisclaimer!

◦Part 1◦Part 2◦Part 3

Ottorino Resphigi (1879-Ottorino Resphigi (1879-1936)1936)

BiographyBiographyFamily of musiciansTwo degrees

◦Violin◦Composition

Interceded with Mussolini on behalf of critics

Recorded with the New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestra

““The Fountains of Rome” The Fountains of Rome” 19161916Fourth Movement: “The Medici

Fountains at Sunset”Symphonic Poem*

◦Program music* expanded to the entire orchestra;

◦One single movementMusical references:

◦Splashing water◦Twinkling stars

Igor Stravinsky 1882-1971Igor Stravinsky 1882-1971

BiographyBiographyBorn and raised in Saint

PetersburgInspired by a performance of

Tchaikovsky’s Swan LakeFamily pressure to abandon

music and study lawTravelled extensively and

absorbed local musical traditions

““The Rite of Spring” The Rite of Spring” 19131913Choreography by Vaslav NijinskyPremiere in Paris:

◦Booing◦Loud arguments in the audience◦Fistfights◦Street brawl◦Police called

PulcinellaPulcinella◦Commedia dell’Arte character

Extra-long nose Servant Pretends to be too stupid to understand

the situation; Mean, vicious, crafty

CD #2, Track 16CD #2, Track 16“Pulcinella” Suite – 1913

◦Neoclassical style Inspired by Baroque and Classical forms,

harmonies and melodies

US CitizenUS CitizenSettled in Hollywood

◦Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame◦1st Grammy Award to a classical

musicianArrested!

◦Boston, April 15, 1940 Violation: Federal law prohibited the

reharmonization of the National Anthem.

Carl Orff (1895-1982)Carl Orff (1895-1982)

BiographyBiographyBegan musical studies at 5Interested mainly in new

compositionsWrote his own texts to vocal

musicMusical educator

◦Techniques still in use todayAlmost killed in WWI

33rdrd Reich ReichProbably a memberCarmina Burana was popular with

NazisHired to rewrite incidental music

for A Midsummer Night’s Dream◦Mendelssohn’s music was banned

Betrayed his friend, Kurt Huber, a founder of Die Weiße Rose

Carmina Burana Carmina Burana (1935)(1935)24 Medieval poemsLatin textInspired by Renaissance

compositionsWritten for huge orchestra with

over twenty percussion instruments

Two choirsSoloists

Carmina Burana Carmina Burana ((CD#2, ((CD#2, Track 17))Track 17))

O Fortuna O Fortuna & & Fortune Plango Fortune Plango VulneraVulnera

Jean-Pierre Ponnelle◦1975