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Szymanowski, Karol - Fantasy on 'King Roger'
for Symphony Orchestra Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937) composed his opera King Roger from 1918 to 1924, having been inspired by visits to Italy and the Mediterranean. Szymanowski's music is richly orchestrated, colourful, sensuous as well as violent and modern. The opera tells the tale of the Sicilian King Roger II and his conflict between devout Christianity and the pagan abandon of the mysterious Shepherd. This orchestral Fantasy is a symphonic poem based on the music from the opera, and follows the narrative in its original order. Vocal parts are redistributed among the orchestra, while Szymanowski's rich and colourful orchestration is unchanged. It was arranged in 2019 and first performed by the Residentie Orkest in the Netherlands and the Gürzenich Orchester Köln in Germany, conducted by Nicholas Collon. |
It opens with a religious service and the sounds of Orthodox solemnity. A brief dramatic disturbance heralds the arrival of the Shepherd, represented by a broad melody in the cellos. Roger's angry rejection of the Shepherd sparks music of defiance, followed by an anguished trombone melody. The scene changes to evening, and the Shepherd awaits his fate in unsettled music. He hears the erotic song of Roger's wife, Roxana, played by a solo violin. The Shepherd begins a beguiling dance, initiated by the oboe, which becomes more frantic as the crowds join him. Their ecstatic embrace of paganism is brutally stopped by Roger, but the crowd overwhelms him and they leave with Roxana and the Shepherd. Alone, and in music of eerie stillness, Roger contemplates joining the Shepherd. Finally convinced by the freedom that is offered to him, Roger celebrates the joyous rising sun with music of power and emotional release.
Duration: 21 minutes
Instrumentation: 3 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 3 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, 6 percussion (snare drum, tambourine, bass drum, triangle, cymbals, tam-tam, glockenspiel, xylophone), harp, celeste, strings.
Listen to a performance of the arrangement here:
Fantasy on 'King Roger' (21'00)
Duration: 21 minutes
Instrumentation: 3 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 3 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, 6 percussion (snare drum, tambourine, bass drum, triangle, cymbals, tam-tam, glockenspiel, xylophone), harp, celeste, strings.
Listen to a performance of the arrangement here:
Fantasy on 'King Roger' (21'00)