The tone poem or symphonic poem is a long single movement piece for orchestra. Tone poems often use a large orchestra and are quite free in their structure.
The composer Franz Liszt wrote thirteen tone poems including ‘Hamlet’ which depicts the Shakespearean character.
Richard Strauss wrote many descriptive tone poems. One of these is Til Eulenspiegel, which tells of a mischievous character of German legend. Strauss uses a short musical theme to represent Til, this is heard at the beginning and then appears in different with different instruments and rhythms throughout the work.
Well-known tone poems include Vltava by Bedřich Smetana which portrays the journey of the river Moldau. The flowing theme of the river appears in different forms. Hunting horns are heard in the forests, before the river flows past a rustic wedding celebration where the guests are dancing a polka. The bubbling brooks at the river’s source are represented by two gently murmuring flutes in a minor key
Some of these composers have represented folk tales and characters, others natural phenomena, others animals and creatures. Which do you think are the most successful? Why is that? Which do you think could be better? What would you have done differently if you were the composer? Is there a folk tale that you would compose? What would that be? What would it sound like?
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