Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks (, [tɪl ˈoʏ̯lənʃpiːɡl̩s ˈlʊstɪɡə ˈʃtraɪçə), Op. 28, is a tone poem written in 1894–95 by Richard Strauss. It chronicles the misadventures and pranks of the German peasant folk hero Till Eulenspiegel, who is represented by two themes. The first, played by the horn, is a lilting melody that reaches a peak, falls downward, and ends in three long, loud notes, each progressively lower. The second, for D clarinet, is crafty and wheedling, suggesting a trickster doing what he does best.

Analysis

The opening "once upon a time" motif return several times, representative of the calm between exploits.

The work opens with a "Once upon a time" theme, as a solo horn bursts in with two repetitions of the first Till theme. The theme is taken by the rest of the orchestra in a rondo form (which Strauss spelled in its French form, rondeau), and this beginning section concludes with the tutti orchestra repeating two notes.

The first of the recurring themes representing Till himself is first heard on the horn

The clarinet theme is heard next, suggesting Till's laughter as he plots his next prank. The music follows Till throughout the countryside, as he rides a horse through a market, upsetting the goods and wares, pokes fun at the strict Teutonic clergy (represented by the violas), flirts with and chases girls (the love theme is given to the first violins), and mocks the serious academics (represented by the bassoons).

The music suggesting a horse ride returns again, with the first theme restated all over the orchestra. The climax abruptly changes to a funeral march. Till has been captured by the authorities, and is sentenced to death for blasphemy. The funeral march of the headsman begins a dialogue with the desperate Till, who tries to wheedle and joke his way out of this predicament. Unfortunately, he has no effect on the stony executioner, who hangs him. The progress of Till being hauled up the gallows is graphically painted by the D clarinet, with the anticipatory drumroll emulated by the flutes after he has reached the top. The D clarinet wails in a distortion of the first theme, signifying his death scream as the drop begins, and a pizzicato by the strings represents the snapping of his neck as the noose rope reaches full extension. After a moment of silence, the "once upon a time" theme heard at the beginning returns, suggesting that someone like Till can never be destroyed, and the work ends with one last quotation of the musical joke.

Instrumentation

The work is scored for a large orchestra:

• woodwind: piccolo, 3 flutes, 3 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets in B-flat, D clarinet, bass clarinet, 3 bassoons, contrabassoon
• brass: 4 horns in F and E, 4 horns in D (ad libitum), 3 trumpets in F and C, 3 trumpets in D (ad libitum), 3 trombones, tuba
• percussion: timpani, bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, triangle, large ratchet;
• strings: violins I, II, violas, violoncellos, double basses

There also exists a version for piano four-hands, which has been recorded by Percy Grainger and Ralph Leopold.

Ballet

The work was also presented as a ballet with choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky in 1916.

References

1. ^ Steinberg, Michael. "Strauss: Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks, After the Old Rogue's Tale, Set in Rondo Form for Large Orchestra, Opus 28". San Francisco Symphony. Retrieved 17 July 2014. 
2. ^ "Portray in ballet – Strauss's gay tale", The New York Times (October 24, 1916) (PDF )

• Saint Louis Symphony Concert Notes. Concert Program for November 28 and 29, 2008
• Strauss, R (1864–1949) – Till Eulenspiegels Lustige Streiche, (nach alter Schelmenweise – In Rondeauform – für grosses Orchester gestetzt). Paul Serotsky, Music Web (n.d.)
• Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, Symphonic Poem, Op. 28. Orchestra instrumentation study score; preface: Norman Del Mar. translation preface (German): Stefan de Haan ISBN 978-3-7957-6619-1