Also Sprach Zarathustra (1896) Op. 30: 1. Sunrise Richard Strauss (1864-1949) Background: The most popular of Richard’s seven tone poems is Thus Spake Zarathustra (Prophet of Spirit, Light and Good) completed in 1896 for large orchestra and organ. The music, premiered in Frankfurt during 1896, was inspired by Friederich Nietzche’s radical poem about the progress of human evolution towards a super race. The dramatic score inspired other artists including Stanley Kubrick who used the music for his film 2001-Space Odyssey (1969). The most performed section is the opening, Sunrise, which also represents Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story 2 video game. The Music:

• The lower orchestral instruments and organ produce a chilling but spiritual throb as the night sky slowly gives way to the beginning of a new day

• Trumpets add a rising three-note pattern as the sun appears on the horizon • A brief brass fanfare and crashing cymbals lead to a dramatic timpani solo • These simple musical ideas are repeated before powerful orchestral pyrotechnics reveal the

blazing sun as it dominates the sky • An energetic triangle rings with a lingering organ before the spiritual throb fades

Suite No. 2 in B Minor BWV 1067: VII Badinerie Soloist: Robin Saunders J. S. Bach (1685-1750) Background:

Johan Sebastian composed four orchestral suites between 1717-1723 while employed by Prince Leopold of Anhalt-Cöthen. Suite No 2, composed in a concerto style for solo flute and strings, has seven movements mostly based on popular French dances such as the bourrée and minuet. The work is one of the earliest composed for a solo one-keyed baroque flute with its simple wooden structure and growing popularity. The Badinerie, a lively French dance, reveals the virtuoso standard achieved by the flautists of the day

The Music: • The flute leaps in with a light descending melody (A1) supported by strings • The flute dashes away with a playful reply (A2) chased by the strings • (A1) is repeated but answered by a lively extended reply (A3) as the strings attempt to interact

with the flute before the whole section is repeated. • The flute dominates the next section as the melody is developed via a variety of musical colours

and florid decorations • The strings remain in pursuit until this delightful movement ends with a flourish

Zadok the Priest (1727) G. F. Händel (1685-1759) Background:

In 1710 George Frideric arrived in England from Germany, was quickly adopted as an English composer and granted British Citizenship by 1727. Zadok The Priest was one of three anthems composed for the coronation of George II and Queen Caroline following the death of George I. The text, based on 1 Kings, Ch. 1 v 38-40, describes how Zadok anointed King Solomon after David’s death. Zadok remains the most popular anthem and has since been sung at all English coronations including that of the present Queen in 1953. It was written at 25 Brook Street London, George’s home from 1723, which is now a museum dedicated to his music. The Music:

• Pulsating lower strings and woodwind support the gliding sequential violins in a long processional introduction • The choir enters with a slow stately “Zadok the Priest” as the trumpets fanfare to the heavy beat of the timpani • The choir break into a lively tempo with, “and all the people rejoiced” which is decorated by dance-like violins, oboes and trumpets • The choir and orchestra combine for the majestic fanfare, "God save the King” • A florid interaction between chorus and orchestra follows for “May the King live forever - Alleluia Amen” before fanfares bring this exciting anthem to a close

Zarathustra

J S Bach

Strauss

Händel

Brook Street

Baroque Flute

© Active Music Services 2006

Blue Danube Waltz (1867) Johann Strauss II (1825-1899)

Background Johann was born into a musical family in Vienna - the music capital of the world and the city of the waltz. His father Johann Strauss I was a famous waltz composer but Johann Junior became the “Waltz King”. The waltz originated in Germany during the eighteenth century and by the end of the nineteenth it was a pop craze across Europe making Johann the first pop star millionaire. Since 1867 the graceful Blue Danube Waltz has been played and danced to in ballrooms and taverns along the banks of the Danube and remains the most popular waltz across the world. The Music:

• Shimmering strings, solo horn, punctuating flutes and chirpy bird calls set the scene for a long trip along the River Danube.

• Horns and strings flow into first melody (A) answered by delicate violins (B) • Military woodwind (C) are answered by swirling violins (D) before (C) returns. • The orchestra swoops in with (E) and a fanfare leads to elegant strings (F) • Majestic orchestra (G), swaying strings and flute (H) and (G) returns with percussion. • Woodwind and strings tiptoe back to (F) before (A) returns and the orchestra gathers momentum as they reach the end of their journey.

Horn Concerto No 4 K 495: 3rd Movement Soloist: Dr Cox W. A. Mozart (1756-1791)

Background: A prolific composer from an early age Wolfgang was capable of writing inspirational music for

any instrument or ensemble and for any occasion. Having produced his first symphony at eight and his first opera at twelve four horn concertos at thirty would not have stretched his musical ability. The fourth horn concerto was composed in 1786 for another virtuoso Salzburg musician and the composer’s best friend Joseph Ignaz Leutgeb. The popular third movement (The Hunt) is technically demanding to play on a modern horn with valves. How Joseph produced the notes with a valve-less horn remains one of Wolfgang’s mischievous legacies. The Music:

• The rondo begins with the horns hunting melody which is repeated by the orchestra • The horn replies with a virtuoso contrasting section as strings gallop and decorate • The main hunting melody returns • A bolder section reveals a variety of horn colours and a dialogue with the orchestra • The main melody returns again • The first contrasting section returns and is developed • Main melody and a further dialogue brings the movement to a triumphant close

Nabucco (1842): Va Pensiero (Speed your Journey) Guiseppe Verdi (1813-1901) Background:

Although Guiseppe was born into a poor Italian family he had music lessons from an early age. A church organist from eleven, writing works for local brass bands in his teens and the love of opera were the main ingredients for this composer eventually producing over twenty five great stage works. Nabucco was based on the story of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, who marched to Jerusalem, enslaved the Hebrews and sent them into exile. The stirring chorus has all the emotion of Italian opera and was written when that nation was in conflict with Austria.

The Music: • A dramatic introduction ends with a hovering flute solo • The choir is unified by the famous swaying melody for “Speed your journey, my

thoughts and my longings, speed your journey to mountain and valley, where the sweet scented air breathes a fragrance over the homes that we knew long ago”.

• “Golden harps of the Prophets” is harmonized before the flute decorates “We have drunk from the cup of affliction”.

• The orchestra surges into the final, “Oh inspire us Jehovah with courage” as the strings and woodwind wail before the chorus ends peacefully

Strauss II

Vienna Ball

Mozart

Early Horn

Verdi

Nabucco

© Active Music Services 2006