Here's something you might be interested in.
Since Eine Alpensinfonie is a tone poem, let's talk about what a tone poem is.
The dictionary says a tone poem is a large scale orchestra work based on folk tales or literature. That's not completely true because there are tone poems based on politics and philosophical ideas.
In order to make more sense of that, we'll go over a few examples.
The 1812 Overture is based on politics, Strauss' Death and Transfiguration is a tone poem about the death of a hero and the transformation to the next life.
The 1812 Overture is undoubtedly the best know tone poem. Here's the story behind the music.
It opens with a Russian Orthodox Hymn. Some recordings use a choir to sing the hymn. The Marseillaise (Napoleon) comes steaming in a few times but ultimately the Russian Hymn music returns with thundering canons and peeling church bells.
The story is Napoleon's invasion and subsequent retreat.
Death and Transfiguration starts out with an infrequent heart beat on the timpani representing the hero nearing death. The orchestra recalls exciting episodes from the hero's life before the transfiguration theme arrives in the form of an ascending arpeggio.
This theme was plucked, note for note, by John Williams for the love theme in the first Superman movie.
As the tone poem concludes, death arrives but without dread. Instead, death is portrayed with peaceful optimism.
Here are some famous tone poems that are worth exploring.
Richard Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra, Ein Heldenleben (A Hero's LIfe), Tod und Verklarung (Death and Transfiguration), Til Eulenspiegel, Don Juan, Eine Alpensinfonie.
Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest (Shakespeare).
Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Fawn.
Lizst: Les Preludes, Faust Symphony, Mephisto Waltz.
Sibelius: Finalandia, Swan of Tuonela.
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, American in Paris.
Here's a link to what I think is the most satisfying 1812.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W42NXCgNyMI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyGNF9jsR08&NR=1
Since Eine Alpensinfonie is a tone poem, let's talk about what a tone poem is.
The dictionary says a tone poem is a large scale orchestra work based on folk tales or literature. That's not completely true because there are tone poems based on politics and philosophical ideas.
In order to make more sense of that, we'll go over a few examples.
The 1812 Overture is based on politics, Strauss' Death and Transfiguration is a tone poem about the death of a hero and the transformation to the next life.
The 1812 Overture is undoubtedly the best know tone poem. Here's the story behind the music.
It opens with a Russian Orthodox Hymn. Some recordings use a choir to sing the hymn. The Marseillaise (Napoleon) comes steaming in a few times but ultimately the Russian Hymn music returns with thundering canons and peeling church bells.
The story is Napoleon's invasion and subsequent retreat.
Death and Transfiguration starts out with an infrequent heart beat on the timpani representing the hero nearing death. The orchestra recalls exciting episodes from the hero's life before the transfiguration theme arrives in the form of an ascending arpeggio.
This theme was plucked, note for note, by John Williams for the love theme in the first Superman movie.
As the tone poem concludes, death arrives but without dread. Instead, death is portrayed with peaceful optimism.
Here are some famous tone poems that are worth exploring.
Richard Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra, Ein Heldenleben (A Hero's LIfe), Tod und Verklarung (Death and Transfiguration), Til Eulenspiegel, Don Juan, Eine Alpensinfonie.
Tchaikovsky: 1812 Overture, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest (Shakespeare).
Debussy: Prelude to the Afternoon of a Fawn.
Lizst: Les Preludes, Faust Symphony, Mephisto Waltz.
Sibelius: Finalandia, Swan of Tuonela.
Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, American in Paris.
Here's a link to what I think is the most satisfying 1812.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W42NXCgNyMI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyGNF9jsR08&NR=1