Composer

:

Camille Saint-Saëns

Genre

:

Vocal

Compose Date

:

1914

Average_duration

:

23:23

Movement_count

:

10

Movement ....

La cendre rouge, Op. 146 is a symphonic poem composed by Camille Saint-Saëns in 1913. It was premiered on January 23, 1914, in Paris, conducted by Gabriel Pierné. The piece is divided into three movements, each depicting a different scene from the story of the Red Ashes. The first movement, "The City of the Dead," begins with a somber and mournful theme, representing the desolate and eerie atmosphere of the cemetery. The music gradually builds in intensity, with the addition of brass and percussion, as the scene becomes more chaotic and unsettling. The second movement, "The Dance of Death," is a lively and macabre waltz, featuring a playful and sinister melody played by the woodwinds. The music is full of sudden shifts in tempo and dynamics, creating a sense of unease and unpredictability. The final movement, "The Triumph of Death," is the most dramatic and intense of the three. It begins with a powerful and ominous theme played by the brass, representing the unstoppable force of death. The music becomes increasingly frenzied and chaotic, with the addition of percussion and strings, as the scene reaches its climax. Overall, La cendre rouge is a haunting and evocative piece of music, showcasing Saint-Saëns' skill in creating vivid and atmospheric soundscapes. The use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies adds to the unsettling and eerie quality of the music, while the frequent changes in tempo and dynamics keep the listener on edge.

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