Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks, Op. 28
Richard Strauss (1864-1949)

THE STORY

The character called “Till Eulenspiegel” is an earthy, medieval prankster, notorious in 16th-century German street literature. The comic subject for a tone poem was a departure for Strauss; his earlier Death and Transfiguration, influenced by the Romanticism of Wagner, was preoccupied with the metaphysical realm.

Strauss makes full use of ingeniously dramatic, yet cheeky orchestration. A chasing melodic solo by a clarinet falls headlong into the unexpected coaxing of flutes. The bass clarinet races upward only to meet the clashing of cymbals. With little to no transition between episodes, the listener thrashes about in a continuous kaleidoscope of roguish imbecility.

LISTEN FOR

• Two “Eulenspiegel” themes: the opening, docile melody presented by the violins, followed by a tongue-in-cheek horn call
• Unassuming, cozy melodies suddenly interrupted by Eulenspiegel’s appearance
• Clusters of dissonances and syncopated rhythms alluding to the catastrophic results of pranks

INSTRUMENTATION

Piccolo, three flutes, three oboes, English horn, two clarinets, bass clarinet, E-flat clarinet, three bassoons, contrabassoon, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, strings