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Also sprach Zarathustra (Richard Strauss)
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Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (Eng. Thus Spake Zarathustra) is a tone poem by Richard Strauss, composed in 1896 and inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical treatise of the same name.
It contains the World riddle theme, a particular sequence of musical notes in the melody.
The composer conducted its first performance in Frankfurt. A typical performance lasts half an hour.
Its introduction has become one of the most recognisable pieces of music ever written, due in large part to its use by Stanley Kubrick as the key musical motif in his 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
orchestra consists of the following:
Woodwinds:
- Piccolo
- 3 Flutes (3rd doubling Piccolo)
- 3 Oboes
- English horn
- 3 Clarinets in E-flat and B-flat
- Bass Clarinet in B-flat
- 3 Bassoons
- Contrabassoon
Brass:
- 6 Horns in F
- 4 Trumpets in C
- 3 Trombones
- 2 Tubas
Percussion:
- Timpani
- Bass Drum
- Cymbals
- Triangle
- Glockenspiel
- Bell on low E
Keyboard:
- Organ
Strings:
- 2 Harps
- Violins I, II (16 each)
- Violas (12)
- Violoncellos (12)
- Double Basses (8) (Several with low C string)
piece is divided into nine sections played with only three clear breaks.
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Encyclopedia
Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 (Eng. Thus Spake Zarathustra) is a tone poem by Richard Strauss, composed in 1896 and inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophical treatise of the same name.
It contains the World riddle theme, a particular sequence of musical notes in the melody.
The composer conducted its first performance in Frankfurt. A typical performance lasts half an hour.
Its introduction has become one of the most recognisable pieces of music ever written, due in large part to its use by Stanley Kubrick as the key musical motif in his 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Instrumentation
The orchestra consists of the following:
Woodwinds:
- Piccolo
- 3 Flutes (3rd doubling Piccolo)
- 3 Oboes
- English horn
- 3 Clarinets in E-flat and B-flat
- Bass Clarinet in B-flat
- 3 Bassoons
- Contrabassoon
Brass:
- 6 Horns in F
- 4 Trumpets in C
- 3 Trombones
- 2 Tubas
Percussion:
- Timpani
- Bass Drum
- Cymbals
- Triangle
- Glockenspiel
- Bell on low E
Keyboard:
- Organ
Strings:
- 2 Harps
- Violins I, II (16 each)
- Violas (12)
- Violoncellos (12)
- Double Basses (8) (Several with low C string)
Structure
The piece is divided into nine sections played with only three clear breaks. Strauss named the sections after selected chapters in the book:
- Einleitung (Introduction), or sunrise
- Von den Hinterweltlern (Of the Backworldsmen)
- Von der großen Sehnsucht (Of the Great Longing)
- Von den Freuden und Leidenschaften (Of the Joys and Passions)
- Das Grablied (The Grave-Song)
- Von der Wissenschaft (Of Science)
- Der Genesende (The Convalescent)
- Das Tanzlied (The Dance Song)
- Nachtwandlerlied (Song of the Night Wanderer)
The piece starts with a sustained low C , 32' pitch, on the double basses, double bassoon and organ. This leads into the brass fanfare of the Introduction and introduces the "dawn" motif (from "Zarathustra's Prologue", the text of which is included in the printed score) that permeates the structure of the entire work: the motif includes three notes, in intervals of a fifth and octave, as C-G-C (also called the Nature-motif).
"Of the Backworldsmen" begins with 'cellos, double-basses and organ pedal before opening up into a lyrical passage for the entire section. The following two sections, "Of the Great Yearning" and "Of Joys and Passions", both introduce motifs that are more chromatic in nature.
"Of Science" features an unusual fugue beginning in the double-basses and cellos, which consists of all twelve notes of the chromatic scale. It is one of the very few sections in the orchestral literature where the basses must play a contra-b (lowest b on a piano).
"The Convalescent" acts as a reprise of the original motif, and climaxes with a massive chord in the entire orchestra.
"The Dance Song" features a very prominent violin solo throughout the section.
The end of the "Song of the Night Wanderer" leaves the piece half resolved, with high flutes, piccolos and violins playing a B major chord, while the lower strings pluck a C.
One of the major compositional themes of the piece is the contrast between the keys of B major, representing humanity, and C major, representing the universe. Although B and C are adjacent notes, these keys are tonally dissimilar: B major uses five sharps, while C major has none.
World riddle theme
There are two viewpoints about the World riddle theme (a particular sequence of notes in the melody). Some sources denote the fifth/octave intervals (C-G-C (8va)) as the World riddle motif. However, other sources refer to the 2 conflicting keys in the final section as representing the World riddle (C-G-C B-F#-B (8va)), with the unresolved harmonic progression being an unfinished or unsolved riddle: the melody does not conclude with a clearly defined tonic note as being either C or B, hence it is unfinished. The ending of the composition has been described:
"But the riddle is not solved. The tone-poem ends enigmatically in two keys, the Nature-motif plucked softly, by the basses in its original key of C—and above the woodwinds, in the key of B major. The unsolvable end of the universe: for Strauss was not pacified by Nietzsche's solution."
Neither C major nor B major is established as the tonic at the end of the composition.
In popular culture
- The piece is featured in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), The Simpsons Movie (2007) and WALL-E (2008).
- Joe Morrison began the traditional use of the piece at the University of South Carolina, and the school later adopted the song school-wide, where all sports teams enter to it, and graduation ceremonies end with it.
- The song is used by former professional wrestler Ric Flair as his entrance music.
- A funky version of Also Sprach Zarathustra by Deodato won the 1973 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance and went to No. 2 in the pop charts in the US, No. 3 in Canada, and No. 7 in the UK.
- The piece appeared in a cut-scene of the 2008 game Spore as the player's creature moves from Creature Phase to Tribal Phase, in homage of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
- The piece was used in tribute to the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey by Australian rock band Powderfinger as their introduction music during the 2001 Big Day Out music festival, of which they were the main Australian headlining band.
- The piece was used by progressive rock/metal band Dream Theater as their opening during their Chaos in Motion 2007–2008 Tour.
- Used by Elvis Presley as his entrance music in the 1970s (e.g Live at Madison Square Garden)
- Covered by the rock band Phish extensively
- Often used by the Dave Matthews Band as interpolation to some songs while performing live, most notably in the Anyone Seen the Bridge? jam.
- Mel Brooks' film History of the World, Part 1 also used it in the opening scene, an obvious parody of the opening sequence of 2001: A Space Odyssey, 'The Dawn of Man'.
See also
- Death and Transfiguration (Op. 24)
External links
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