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Death and Transfiguration

The document provides biographical information about German composer Richard Georg Strauss and analyzes his tone poem "Death and Transfiguration". It outlines key events in Strauss's life, including his musical education and compositions. It then describes the four movements of "Death and Transfiguration", explaining how it musically depicts a sick man's battle with death and transfiguration into heaven. Lastly, it includes a listening guide highlighting themes and musical elements within each movement.

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197 views13 pages

Death and Transfiguration

The document provides biographical information about German composer Richard Georg Strauss and analyzes his tone poem "Death and Transfiguration". It outlines key events in Strauss's life, including his musical education and compositions. It then describes the four movements of "Death and Transfiguration", explaining how it musically depicts a sick man's battle with death and transfiguration into heaven. Lastly, it includes a listening guide highlighting themes and musical elements within each movement.

Uploaded by

api-241524795
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Death and Transfiguration

Biography
History/info guide
Listening guide

Biography: Richard Georg


Strauss

Childhood
Born June 11th 1864 in Munich
Germany
Father: Franz Strauss
Mother: Josepha Pschorr
Received great musical education
Wrote first composition at age six

Biography: Richard Georg


Strauss
Adulthood
Studied philosophy
and art history
Age 21 became
musical director in
Miningen
Composed lieder
and choral works

Biography: Richard Georg


Strauss
Pauline De Ahna
1887 Strauss met
Pauline De Ahna
Married on
September 10,
1894
Birth of son, Franz,
in 1897

Biography: Richard Georg


Strauss
World War I
Strauss lost assets in
Bank of England
New career position
working with Franz
Schalk
Toured USA and South
America
Son, Franz, got
married

World War II
Nazis-regime grew
Strauss wanted to
promote German art
and culture
Protect Jewish
Daughter in law
Involvement in Nazisregime
Financial Ruin after
world war

Biography: Richard Georg


Strauss
Death
Died on September 8th 1949 at the
age of eighty-five
Completed many musical
compositions through life
His music is still being played today

Death and Transfiguration


History/info guide

Tod und Verklarung translates to


Death and transfiguration
Completed on November 18, 1889
Written for large orchestra
Average composition time is twentyfour minutes long
Is a Tone Poem

Death and Transfiguration


History/info guide

1.
2.
3.

4.

Poem Breakdown
Largo: A sick man asleep approaching death
Allegro Molto Agitato: Great pain arises
awakening him from sleep as he battle death
Meno Mosso, ma Sempre Alla Breve:
Exhausted, returns to sleep with his life
flashing before his eyes, arriving to his fateful
death.
Moderato: Reaches heaven being transfigured

Death and Transfiguration


Listening guide

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvMjQJrwKco

Largo
Orchestral painting of the
atmosphere
Returning theme A setting lowliness
in the mood
Theme B, dreams of the ill man

Death and Transfiguration


Listening guide

Allegro Molto Agitato


Loud strike on timpani to animate the
beginning of the battle for life
Ascending, intensifying the
dissonance to the reality of the
problem
Climax, the battle may be over but
no victors arose
Theme A returns as sleep ensues

Death and Transfiguration


Listening guide

Meno Mosso, ma Sempre Alla Breve


The mans life starts flashing before
him starting with childhood
Transition from Childhood into
Adulthood by the sweet harmony of
joy becomes more aggressive as life
settles in

The End
By Levi Erickson

Citation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pauline_
de_Ahna
(picture slide 4)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_
Strauss
(picture slide 3)

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