(SW 1064)
for femal chorus (SSAA) & piano

Following Die Mär vom Bischof Hatto (SW 1015) for mixed chorus with piano and Belsatzar (SW 1052) for male chorus with piano by Christian Ridil, our publishing house is now proud to present Der Totentanz—a ballad for female chorus with piano.

This ghostly, bone-rattling horror ballad—none other than one penned by Goethe under the impression of the Napoleonic War in 1813—is performed here by the chorus in blocks along the verses. The piece begins with four introductory lines that briefly describe the scene; these are recited by a speaker—a technique the composer previously employed in Belsatzar (see above).

Musically, the nightmare dance of ghosts intensifies from verse to verse, propelled by a skeletal, bony accompaniment that lends the composition its distinctive character and stands in sharp contrast to the vocal part. These allusive contrasts create an impressive depth and ambiguity, further enhancing the expressive power of the significant literary original.

Martin Schmeck

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