Composer

:

Richard Strauss

Genre

:

Miscellaneous

Style

:

Melodrama

Compose Date

:

1897

Average_duration

:

61:15

Movement_count

:

9

Movement ....

Enoch Arden, Op. 38 is a melodrama composed by Richard Strauss in 1897. The piece is based on a poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, and tells the story of a sailor named Enoch Arden who is shipwrecked on a deserted island for ten years. When he finally returns home, he finds that his wife has remarried and has children with her new husband. Enoch decides to keep his identity a secret and watches over his family from afar until his death. The piece premiered on October 18, 1897, in Berlin, with the actor Ernst von Possart reciting the poem while Strauss accompanied him on the piano. The work is divided into nine movements, each corresponding to a section of the poem. The movements are: 1. Prologue: The poem's introduction, which sets the scene and introduces the characters. 2. Childhood: Enoch's childhood and his friendship with Annie Lee. 3. Love Scene: Enoch and Annie's courtship and marriage. 4. Departure: Enoch's departure on his first voyage. 5. The Shipwreck: Enoch's shipwreck and his ten-year exile on the island. 6. The Return: Enoch's return home and his discovery of his wife's new life. 7. The Forsaken: Enoch's decision to keep his identity a secret and watch over his family from afar. 8. The Death Scene: Enoch's death and his final thoughts. 9. Epilogue: The poem's conclusion, which reflects on the themes of love, loss, and redemption. Enoch Arden, Op. 38 is a unique work in Strauss's oeuvre, as it combines spoken word with music. The piano accompaniment is rich and expressive, with lush harmonies and virtuosic passages that underscore the drama of the poem. The piece also showcases Strauss's skill as a composer of programmatic music, as he uses the music to depict the various scenes and emotions of the poem. Overall, Enoch Arden, Op. 38 is a powerful and moving work that showcases Strauss's versatility as a composer. Its combination of spoken word and music creates a unique and immersive experience for the listener, and its themes of love, loss, and redemption resonate with audiences to this day.

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