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Also sprach Zarathustra

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This article is about the musical composition. For other uses, see Also sprach Zarathustra (disambiguation).

Also sprach Zarathustra, op. 30 is a symphonic poem by Richard Strauss, composed in 1896 and inspired by the book of the same title by Friedrich Nietzsche. It was first performed in Frankfurt, with the composer conducting. It is widely known for its use in Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. The introduction is one of the most recognized pieces of music of the last 125 years.

Instrumentation

The work is scored for piccolo, 3 flutes (3rd doubling piccolo), 3 oboes, English horn, 3 clarinets in E-flat and B-flat, bass clarinet in B-flat, 3 bassoons, contrabassoon, 6 horns in F, 4 trumpets in C, 3 trombones, 2 tubas, timpani, triangle, bass drum, cymbals, Glockenspiel, bell on "Low E", organ, 2 harps and strings.

Structure

The work runs for about half an hour. It is divided into nine sections that are played with only three clear breaks. The sections (named after selected chapters in the book) are:

  1. Einleitung (Introduction)
  2. Von den Hinterweltlern (Of the Backworldsmen)
  3. Von der großen Sehnsucht (Of the Great Yearning)
  4. Von den Freuden und Leidenschaften (Of the Joys and Passions)
  5. Das Grablied (The Grave-Song)
  6. Von der Wissenschaft (Of Science)
  7. Der Genesende (The Convalescent)
  8. Das Tanzlied (The Dance Song)
  9. Nachtwandlerlied (Song of the Night Wanderer)

The brass fanfare of the Introduction introduces the "Dawn" motif (from "Zarathustra's Prologue," the text of which is included in the printed score) that permeates the structure of the entire work.

"Of the Backworldsmen" begins in the low strings before opening up into a lyrical passage for the entire section. The following two sections, "Of the Great Yearning" and "Of Joys and Passions," both introduce motifs that are more chromatic in nature.

"Of Science" features an unusual fugue, which consists of all twelve notes of the chromatic scale.

"The Convalescent" acts as a reprise of the original motif, and climaxes with a massive chord in the entire orchestra.

"The Dance Song" features a very prominent violin solo throughout the section.

The end of the "Song of the Night Wanderer" leaves the piece half resolved, with high flutes and violins playing a B major chord, while the lower strings pluck a C.

External links

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