Dance of the Seven Veils from "Salome"

Richard Strauss

Subtitle: Dance of the Seven Veils

General Info

Year: 1907 / 2011
Duration: c. 10:00
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Bravo/Brain
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $115.00 | Score Only (print) - $15.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo/Flute III
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Harp
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Bass Drum
Castanets
Crash Cymbals
Glockenspiel
Marimba
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine
Tam-Tam
Triangle
Vibraphone
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Oscar Wilde, author of Salome, described the scene simply as "Salome dances seven veils’ dance." Though the goal is seduction of her stepfather King Herod, Salome’s actions aren’t overtly erotic, at least initially. A manic introduction in the score is halted by the dancer, who begins again with a languid, deliberate act of attrition, as the orchestra presents heavily ornamented long tones, interspersed with waltzes and teasing melismas. Salome’s tempo gradually increases as she sheds her veils in a final frenzy, then collapses as though in exhaustion. After a moment’s pause, she rises again to throw herself at Herod’s feet in triumph.

An arrangement of Salome was commissioned by Tsuman Junior High School Wind Orchestra for use at the All Japan Band Competition. That version was two thirds of this work; the remaining third was too technical for use at that time.

- Program Note from publisher

Richard Strauss’ opera Salome is based on the story of Salome in the Bible. It premiered in Paris in May 1907 to great acclaim. The opera, however, did create some controversy with its erotic overtones. One critic called it “moral stench.” It was banished by the Archbishop of Vienna, and was not performed there until 1918.

The Dance of the Seven Veils is generally regarded as among the most erotic music ever written. Salome is the daughter of Herodias, daughter of King Herod. The lustful Herod wants Salome to dance, but Herodias forbids it. Herodias begs her not to dance but she ignores her mother and agrees. At the end of the dance, she throws herself at Herod’s feet. The dance is the prelude to the climax, when Herod promises to give Salome whatever she wishes. She asks for the head of John the Baptist; Herod at first offers her half his kingdom instead, but she persists, and Herod relents, executing John the Baptist.

- Program Note from Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music

Commercial Discography

Audio CD: apan Ground Self Defense Force Central Band

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

Florida: VI
Louisiana: V
South Carolina: VI
Texas: V. Complete

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Oakland (Calif.) Municipal Band (Troy Davis, conductor) – 6 August 2016
Inagakuen Sogo High School (Gakuen, Japan) Wind Orchestra. (Tomoki Ubata, conductor) – Spring 2011

Works for Winds by This Composer

Acht Lieder (trans. Iijima) (1885/2017)
Allerseelen (arr. Davis, ed. Fennell) (1885/1955/1987)
Allerseelen (trans. Heger) (1885/1933)
Also Sprach Zarathustra: Fanfare (arr. Longfield) (1896/2001)
Also Sprach Zarathustra: Introduction (arr. Rogers) (1896/1999)
An die Nacht (arr. Blair) (1918/)
At the Summit from "Eine Alpensinfonie" (arr. Miller)
Auf Stillem Waldespfad (arr. Davis) (2010)
Beim Schlafengehn Im Abendrot (arr. Vesbein) (1949/)
Concerto No 1 for Horn and Symphonic Band (tr. Anderson)
Dance of the Seven Veils from "Salome" (arr. Morita) (1907/2011)
Don Juan (tr. Hindsley) (1888/197-?)
Don Juan (tr. Patterson) (1888/)
Don Juan (arr. Schyns) (1889/2019)
Fanfare fur die Wiener Philharmoniker (1924)
Fanfare zur Eröffnung der Musikwoche der Stadt Wien im September 1924
Feierlicher Einzug (arr. Johnson) (1909/2022)
Feierlicher Einzug (ed. Villanueva) (1909)
Feierlicher Einzug der Ritter des Johanniter-Ordens (1909)
Festmusik der Stadt Wien (1942-3)
Festmusik der Stadt Wien (arr Banks) (arr. Banks) (1942-3/1979)
Finale from "Death and Transfiguration" (arr. Harding) (1950)
Hero's Courtship, A (tr. Harding) (1956)
Hero's Life, Synthesis for Concert Band, A (tr. Hindsley)
Introduction to "Also Sprach Zarathustra" (tr. Schmalz) (1896/1986)
Königsmarsch (arr. Barrett) (1906/1941)
Königsmarsch (tr. Borodach) (1906/2021)
Olympische Hymne
Parade March (arr. Longfield) (1905/2016)
Presentation of the Silver Rose (arr. Reed) (1910/1988)
Rondo from Concerto No. 1, Opus 11 (arr. Glover) (1883/2009)
Salome's Dance (tr. Hindsley) (1907/ [196-?]
Selections from "Der Rosenkavalier" (arr. Odom)
Serenade (arr. Fennell) (1881/1986)
Sonatina I (1943)
Sonatina No. 2, Fröhliche Werkstatt (1944-5)
A Strauss Fanfare (arr. Friedman) (2006)
Suite in B-flat , Opus 4
Symphony for Wind. See: Sonatina No. 2, Fröhliche Werkstatt
Three Songs (arr. Kreines) (1885-1894)
Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks (tr. Hindsley) (1865/197-?)
Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks (tr. Weber) (1865/)
Trio from "Der Rosenkavalier" (arr. Reynolds) (1911/1994)
Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare (arr. Hobbs) (1924/2015)
Vienna Philharmonic Fanfare (arr. Linklater) (1924)
Waltzes from "Der Rosenkavalier" (arr. Cailliet) (1911/1946)
Wiener Philharmoniker Fanfare (1924)
Wiener Philharmoniker Fanfare (1924/1960)
Wiener Philharmoniker Fanfare (arr. Dunnigan) (1924/2020?)
Wiener Philharmoniker Fanfare (arr. Nefs) (1924)
Wiener Philharmoniker Fanfare (arr. Rumbelow) (1924/2013?)

Resources

Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Richard Strauss." Accessed 11 August 2016.
Strauss, R. Morita, K. (2011). Dance of the Seven Veils from Salome : For Concert Band [score]. Bravo: Deerfield Beach, Fla.