By Dr. Michael Pratt Tonal ambiguity is evident in the opening fanfare of Also sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss (example 1). Written in 1896, the tone poem for orchestra is an attempt by Strauss to depict in music the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche about his prophet Zarathustra. The tone poem’s famous opening fanfare begins with [...]
Archive for the ‘Composers’ Category
Musical Ambiguity in Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss
Posted in Composers, German Music, Orchestra, Strauss, Richard on September 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Some Aspects and Effects of Wagner’s Art-Work of the Future
Posted in Composers, German Music, Opera, Wagner, Richard on September 4, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
by Dr. Michael Pratt In 1849 Richard Wagner was at the median point of his life. He was 36 years old and had another 34 years to live. He had completed two operas virtually never performed (Die Feen and Das Liebesverbot), and one opera rarely performed (Rienzi). He had also competed three operas which are considered [...]
The Film Music of Max Steiner with Emphasis on King Kong (1933) and Gone With the Wind (1939)
Posted in American Music, Composers, Film Music, Steiner, Max on September 3, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
by Dr. Michael Pratt 1. Film Music as an American Art Form Many people had a hand in the birth and early development of the motion picture in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century in this country including Thomas Alva Edison who in 1887 invented the movie camera known as the Kinetograph in his [...]
