Serenade was composed in 1881-82 when Strauss was 17 years old. The composition brought Strauss to the attention of the great conductor Hans von Billow, who hired the young composer to be his assistant conductor with the Meiningen Orchestra, launching his well-known conducting career. The music is cast in one large movement embracing a short sonata form. Although one of his first works, reminiscent of the mandates of Mozart, all the typical Straussian qualities are present – the long arching melodic lines, rich harmonic textures and instrumental virtuosity. The delightful harmonic nature of the melodies and Strauss’ knowledgeable use of the instruments make Serenade, Opus 7, a gem in the wind instrument literature. It was scored for pairs of flutes, oboes, clarinets, and bassoons plus four horns and a contrabassoon.

Richard Strauss was a German composer and conductor best known for his tone poems and operas. Considered one of the leading composers of the late Romantic period and early modern eras, he has been described as a successor of Wagner and Liszt. His compositional genius rings throughout his works, gives a nod to the greats of the past, and has built foundational staples in ensembles across the world. The beauty of his works lies in the richness of his orchestral textures. When performed by a sensitive conductor, it can reach sumptuous heights, opening new frontiers of line and timbre. A gifted entertainer and composer, he was a genius operating at the peak of his career and has since become a source of great inspiration for the modern generation of musicians.

Program note researched and composed by Elisabeth Jackson.