Richard Strauss's Elektra (Studies In Musical Genesis, Structure, and Interpretation) - Softcover

Gilliam, Bryan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0198166028 ISBN 13: 9780198166023

Publisher: Clarendon Press, 1996

Synopsis

Elektra was the fourth of fifteen operas by Strauss and opened his successful partnership with the librettist Hugo von Hofmannsthal. Gilliam's study of this major work examines its musical-historical context and also provides a detailed analysis of some of its musical features. He establishes a chronology of the evolution of the opera and places it in the larger framework of German opera of the time. His detailed examination of the sketchbooks enables him to offer fresh insight into Strauss's use of motifs and overall tonal structure. In so doing he shows how the work's arresting dissonance and chromaticism have hidden its similarities to his later, seemingly more tonally conservative opera, Der Rosenkavalier: not only does Strauss exploit in both a variety of musical styles to express irony, parody, and other emotions, but both are in fact thoroughly tonal.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Bryan Gilliam's study of this major work looks at its musical-historical context: establishing its compositional chronology, examining critical response to the premiere--especially within the context of contemporary German opera. Gilliam, furthermore, explores a number of important, hitherto unexamined Elektra sources including Strauss's musically fresh insight into such issues as the relationship between voice and orchestra, thematic treatment, and tonal organization, all serving to enhance our understanding of this complex and compelling work.

About the Author:

Bryan Gilliam is at Duke University.

About this edition

• Publisher: Clarendon Press
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0198166028
• ISBN 13: 9780198166023
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288