Tod und Verklärung
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Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration) is a tone poem by Richard Strauss. It was written in 1888-89 and premiered on June 21, 1890 in Eisenach. It is scored for large orchestra.
The music depicts the death of an artist. As the man lays dying, thoughts of his life pass through his head: his childhood innocence, the struggles of his manhood, the attainment of his worldly goals; and at the end, he receives the longed-for transfiguration "from the infinite reaches of heaven" (as described by the composer's friend Alexander Ritter).
Strauss conducted the work himself at the premiere.
Upon Strauss' own death, he remarked that his music was absolutely correct; his feelings mirrored those of the artist depicted within.
[edit] Orchestration
This composition is scored for a large-sized romantic orchestra. Strauss calls for the following:
- Woodwinds
- 3 Flutes
- 2 Oboes
- English Horn
- 2 Clarinets in B-flat
- Bass Clarinet in B-flat
- 2 Bassoons
- Contrabassoon
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