Overture to Rienzi

Richard Wagner

Richard Wagner (arr. Grabel)

This article is a stub. If you can help add information to it, please join the WRP and visit the FAQ (left sidebar) for information.

General Info

Year: 1842 / 1933
Duration: c. 10:30
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: C.L. Barnhouse
Cost: Score and Parts - $90.00   |   Score Only - $10.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Db Piccolo
Flute I-II-III
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Eb Clarinet
Bb Soprano Clarinet I-II-III-IV
Eb Alto Clarinet
Bb Bass Clarinet
Eb Alto Saxophone I-II
Bb Tenor Saxophone
Eb Baritone Saxophone
Cornets I-II
Bb Trumpet I-II
Bb Flugehorn I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium (Bass Clef & Treble Clef)
Tuba I-II
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion

(percussion detail desired)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

During his residence in Riga -- a period of alternating hope and disappointment -- Wagner sketched the Opera Rienzi, deliberately building it on such a stupendous scale that it could only be offered to some royal theater. He had read Bulwer Lytton's Rienzi, The Last of the Barons, and "was carried away by this picture of great political and historical event." Wagner wrote as follows in explanation of the beginning of the work: "Grand opera, with its scenic and musical display, its sensationalism and massive effects, loomed large before my eyes: the aim of my artistic ambition was not merely to imitate it, but with reckless extravagance, to outdo it in every particular." He carried out his intentions so well that the premiere performance at Dresden in 1842 lasted six hours.

The overture is based upon thematic material from the opera, beginning with the long-drawn trumpet call, followed by Rienzi's prayer. This is followed by the allegro chorus of the first act finale and the battle hymn. The second act finale is then introduced, followed by the development section, which is based chiefly on the battle hymn. A brief recapitulation of the first part occurs and a brilliant coda bring the overture to its conclusion. With a wealth of colorful music, the overture has always remained popular -- principally because of one noble melody, Rienzi's prayer for the people.

- Program Note by Everett Kisinger from Program Notes for Band and Band Music Notes

Commercial Discography

None discovered thus far.

State Ratings

• Alabama: Class AA
• Arkansas: V
• Georgia: VI
• South Carolina: VI
• Tennessee: VI
• Virginia: VI

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Taku Winds (Juneau, Alas.) (William Todd Hunt, conductor) – 29 October 2017
• Encore Concert Band (Orland Park, Ill.) (Bill Schuetter, conductor) - 26 October 2014
• San Luis Obispo (Calif.) Wind Orchestra (William V. Johnson, conductor) - 17 May 2003

Works for Winds by this Composer

• Awake (arr. Houseknecht) (1868/1957)
• Chor der Junger from "Das Liebesmahl der Apostel" (arr. Pohler)
• Die Meistersingers, Excerpts from the Opera (arr. Eric Osterling)
• Die Meistersinger Overture (tr. Hindsley) (1868/197-?)
• Die Meistersinger, Prelude (arr. Moses-Tobani/H.R. Kent) (1904/1948)
• Die Meistersinger von Nurnbürg (tr. Hindsley) (1868/196-?)
• Elsa's feierlicher Zug zum Münster (tr. Nefs) (1848/2017)
• Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral from "Lohengrin" (tr. Bourgeois)
• Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral from "Lohengrin" (tr. Cailliet)
• Entry of the Gods into Valhalla (arr. Godfrey) (1869/1906)
• Entry of the Gods into Valhalla (arr. O'Neill) (1869/1930)
• Evening Star (arr. Barnard) (1845/1927)
• Festmusik (arr. Seifert-Kressbronn) (1843-1982)
• Fest Marsch from "Tannhäuser" (tr. Rumbelow) (1845/1997)
• The Flying Dutchman (tr. Hindsley) (1843/197-?)
• Flying Dutchman Overture, The (arr. Godfrey) (1843/1955)
• Gathering of the Armies (arr. Friedman) (1850/1995)
• Homage March (ed. Bourgeois)
• Huldigungsmarsch (ed. Reed) (1864/2002)
• Huldigungsmarsch (ed. Schaefer) (1864/1971)
• Italian Polka (arr Leidzen) (arr. Leidzen) (1941)
• Kaisermarsch (tr. Godfrey) (1871/1912)
• King Heinrich’s Call (tr. Bourgeois) (1850/1983)
• Invocation of Alberich from "Rheingold" (arr. Cailliet) (1869/1940)
• Liebestod (arr. Shishikura) (1856/2014)
• Liebestod (arr. Bainum) (1856/1964)
• Lohengrin (arr. Tamanini) (1850/2005)
• Lohengren: Introduction to Act III (arr. Drumm) (1850/1937)
• March from "Tannhäuser" (arr. Lake) (1926)
• March on, America
• Nibelungen March (arr. Stretton) (c.1874/1909)
• Overture to Rienzi (arr. Grabel) (1842/1933)
• Pilgrim's Chorus (arr. Geese) (1845/2009)
• Pilgrim's Chorus (arr. Musser) (1845/)
• Pilgrim's Chorus (arr. Musser; ed. Rapp) (1845/2009)
• Pilgrim's Chorus (arr. Reed) (1845/1991)
• Prelude to Act I of "Die Meistersinger" (trans. Kreines) (1862/2012)
• Prelude to Act III from "Lohengrin" (tr. Hindsley) (1850)
• Prelude to Act III from "Lohengrin" (tr. Brand) (1850/2001)
• Procession of the Knights of the Holy Grail from "Parsifal" (arr. Houseknecht) (1964)
• Ride of the Valkyries (tr. Patterson)
• Ride of the Valkyries (arr. Laurendeau) (1870/1908)
• Ride of the Valkyries (tr. Longwood) (1870/2000)
• Ride of the Valkyries (arr. Hernandez) (1870)
• Rienzi Overture (arr. Meyrelles) (1842/1892)
• Selections from Act III of "Die Meistersinger von Nurnbürg" (arr. Hanna) (1868/2015)
• Seigfried Fantasie (arr. Seidel) (1876/1893)
• Siegfried Idyll (1870)
• Siegfried's Funeral March (tr. Tanick) (1876/)
• Siegfried's Funeral Music (arr. Paul Whear)
• Siegfried's Funeral March from "Gotterdammerung" (tr. Bourgeois)
• Tannhäuser (arr. Lake) (1845/1926)
• Tannhäuser Grand March (tr. McAlister) (1845/2005)
• Tannhäuser March (arr. E. Fall) (1845)
• Tannhäuser Overture (arr. Fall) (1845/1936)
• Tannhäuser Overture (tr. Safranek) (1845/1913)
• Tannhäuser Overture (arr Sousa) (1845)
• Tannhäuser Overture (arr. Winterbottom) (1845/1903)
• Tannhäuser Selection (arr. Lake) (1926)
• Trauersinfonie (ed. Votta/Boyd) (1844/1924/1994)
• Trauersinfonie (tr. Leidzen) (1844/1924/1949)
• Tristan und Isolde (tr. Janssen) (1862/2015)
• Vorspiel und Liebestod (arr. Godfrey) (1865/1909)
• Wotan's Farewell and Magic Fire Music from "Die Walküre" (arr. Lake) (1874/1937)

References

• Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, pp. 621
• Smith, Norman and Albert Stoutamire (1979). Band Music Notes. Rev. ed. San Diego: Kjos West, pp. 240
• Wagner, R.; Grabel, V. (1933). Overture to Rienzi [score]. C.L. Barnhouse: Oskaloosa, Iowa.