program notes {
general and free ideal of great and manly
heroism” — a late-Romantic response to
Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ Symphony, with which
this tone poem shares the key of E-flat
Major. Indeed, he didn’t strike his friends
as a heroic personality, no matter how bold
and extravagant his musical creations. Bland
and mild-tempered, Strauss was easily manipulated by his strong-willed wife, Pauline,
throughout their 55-year marriage.
In fact, it is the capricious Pauline who
is faithfully portrayed in Ein Heldenleben
in the guise of a highly virtuosic solo
violin. Frau Strauss’ somewhat maddening, but to her husband always alluring,
personality can be deduced from the
instructions the composer gives to the soloist: “angry,” “loving,” “flippant,” “a little
sentimental,” “nagging,” “exuberantly
playful.” In his next tone poem, Symphonia domestica of 1903, the composer actually gave a detailed portrait of a day in the
Strauss household, with wailing baby, a
lively husband-and-wife spat and an even
livelier making-up love scene.
Ein Heldenleben is in six sections that
flow together continuously. The eight
horns — they are the hero’s signature
instruments — proclaim “The Hero’s”
principal theme: a great striding melody
surging upward through a three-octave
range. This theme paints an exuberant
picture of a young, optimistic hero; companion themes suggest his playful nature
while a pulsing ostinato rhythm demonstrates his unstoppable resolve.
“The Hero’s Adversaries” respond
in the acid, mean-spirited tones of woodwinds and the fat, complacent drone of
tuba. Strauss didn’t deny that these represented the carping music critics of the day,
and he doesn’t paint a pretty picture of
them (though he does invent wonderfully
characterful music for the woodwinds
to play).
Now we meet “The Hero’s Companion,” in an extended concerto-like
violin solo. In dark brass tones, we hear
the hero’s somewhat grudging response to
her blandishments, but this soon turns to
ardor in one of Strauss’ most sensuous and
lushly scored love scenes. A tender upwardclimbing melody in the violin expresses the
couple’s devotion.
The BSO
Dave H o ffman n
DHMH RSA # R24924
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