Four Orchestral Songs (Krasa)
The Four Orchestral Songs (Ger: 4 Orchesterlieder), Op. 1, is a musical work for voice and orchestra by Czech composer Hans Krása.
Composition and performance
[edit]The work was composed in 1920, setting nonsense verses from the collection Galgenlieder (Eng: Gallows Songs) by Christian Morgenstern.[1] The first performance took place at the Neues Deutsches Theater in Prague in May 1921 with the Czech Philharmonic under the direction of Krása's composition teacher Alexander Zemlinsky.[2] The soloist was baritone Max Klein.[2] The performance caught the attention of the writer and critic Max Brod who from then on took a close interest in Krása's career.[3] The work was subsequently taken into the publishing house of Universal Edition.[4]
Structure
[edit]The titles of the four songs are as follows:-
- Geiß und Schleiche
- Nein
- Der Seufzer
- Galgenbruders Lied an Sophie, die Henkersmaid
The set has a performance duration of approximately 8 minutes.[4]
Instrumentation
[edit]The orchestra consists of: two piccolos, two flutes, two oboes, cor anglais, two clarinets, bass clarinet, two bassoons, contrabassoon, four horns, two trumpets, four trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, harp, celesta, and strings.[4]
Recordings
[edit]- Magdalena Kožená/Czech Philharmonic/Sir Simon Rattle - Pentatone PTC 5187077.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ "Hans Krása | Musica non grata". www.musicanongrata.cz.
- ^ a b Beaumont, Antony (2000). Zemlinsky. London: Faber & Faber. ISBN 978-0571169832.
- ^ Paula Kennedy: booklet notes to recording of Verlobung im Traum, Decca 'Entartete Musik' series, 1996.
- ^ a b c "Krása - 4 Orchesterlieder for voice and orchestra". Universal Edition.
- ^ "Czech Songs". Pentatone.