Krämerspiegel

Der Krämerspiegel Op. 66 is a 1921 collection of 12 songs written by Richard Strauss. The set of songs were written to texts commissioned by Strauss in a piqued response to a contractual obligation to produce a set of songs for his publisher.^[1] The texts were provided by Berlin literary critic, Alfred Kerr, who wrote for Strauss a set of acid verses ridiculing the music publishing business, and containing in jokes attacking some of Strauss' enemies, such as "1. Es war einmal ein Bock", and "2. Einst kam der Bock als Bote" attacking Bote & Bock. The cycle is rarely performed today due to the arcane texts, but contains virtuoso music for the pianist.

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