Salome's Dance

Richard Strauss

This work is also known as The Dance of the Seven Veils.

General Info

Year: 1907 / [196-?]
Duration: c. 9:10
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hindsley Transcriptions, through C.L. Barnhouse
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $86.00 | Score Only (print) - $24.00 | Oversize Score Only (print) - $35.00

Instrumentation

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

Bass Drum
Bells
Castanets
Crash Cymbals
Gong
Snare Drum
Tambourine
Triangle
Xylophone

Errata

Snare drum, 6m. before reh. 3: These notes should be played as flams (as notated in the score).

Program Notes

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

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

Florida: VI
Georgia: VI
South Carolina: VI
Tennessee: VI
Virginia: VI

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

United States Army Band (Ft. Myer, Va.) (Timothy J. Holtan, conductor) – 2 April 2016

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 22 January 2023.
Strauss, R.; Hindsley, M. [197-?]. Salome's Dance = (Dance of the Seven Veils, from Salome) [score]. [Concert Band Transcriptions]: [Urbana, Ill.]