Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks (tr. Weber)

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Richard Strauss

Richard Strauss (trans. Herb Weber)


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This work bears the designation Opus 28.


General Info

Year: 1895 /
Duration: c. 16:00
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Orchestra
Publisher: Manuscript
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown


Instrumentation

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Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks, Op. 28, is a tone poem written in 1894–95 by Richard Strauss. It chronicles the misadventures and pranks of the German peasant folk hero Till Eulenspiegel, who is represented by two themes. The first, played by the horn, is a lilting melody that reaches a peak, falls downward, and ends in three long, loud notes, each progressively lower. The second, for D clarinet, is crafty and wheedling, suggesting a trickster doing what he does best.

- Program Note from Wikipedia


This symphonic rondo has been described as the most genial humoresque ever written in sound. Although the composer has declined to furnish a descriptive narrative, leaving it "to my hearers to crack the nut which the rogue has prepared for them," Wilhelm Klatte has written a lengthy analysis of the work, which may be summarized as follows:

The whimsical Till rides his horse through a crowd of market women sitting chattering in their stalls; put on the vestments of a priest and assumes an unctuous mien, but feeling uncomfortable in the disguise, tears it off. He becomes a "Don Juan" and waylays pretty women; one bewitches him, but Till's advances are treated with derision. The rogue's anger is scarcely over when a troop of worthy Philistines appears, and these good people receive his gibes. Gaily he goes on his way playing waggish pranks, but Nemesis is upon him. Till is dragged by the jailer before the criminal tribunal. Till replies calmly, and lies. He is condemned to death and fear seizes him. the rogue is then strung up and his soul takes flight. The epilogue, picking up the theme of the instruction, continues the people's murmuring and moralizing over the Till legend.

Aside from its musical evaluation and significance, Till has become somewhat of a virtuoso showpiece for orchestra, and it is even more of challenge for the instrumentation of the concert band.

- Program Note from Program Notes for Band


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Works for Winds by This Composer


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