Thomas Kemp gives practical advice on interpreting this passionate and evocative work for strings
In August 1950 the Hollywood Quartet, with violist Alvin Dinkin and cellist Kurt Reher, recorded the original sextet version of Verklärte Nacht under Schoenberg’s supervision for Capitol Records. The composer was so delighted with the sessions that he offered to write the sleeve notes, which are highly revealing and brilliantly succinct. In the notes, Schoenberg places Verklärte Nacht in its cultural context as programme music inspired by the tone poems of Richard Strauss, ‘illustrating and giving musical expression to the poem of Richard Dehmel’. He goes on to say that the music does not illustrate any action or drama but is rather ‘restricted to portray nature and to express human emotions’. The music expresses the meaning behind the poem…
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"Kamp alitoa ushauri wa vitendo juu ya tafsiri ya kazi hii ya shauku na ya kuvutia kwa kamba: ""Mwezi Agosti 1950, Hollywood Quartet, na violist Alvin Sinker na cellist Kurt Reher, waliorekodi toleo la awali la sextet ya Verklere Nacht chini ya usimamizi wa Schoenberg kwa Capitol Records." Mtunzi huyo alifurahi sana na vipindi hivyo hivi kwamba akajitolea kuandika maelezo ya jalada, ambayo yanafunua mambo mengi na ni mafupi sana. Katika maelezo, Schoenberg huweka Verklärte Nacht katika muktadha wake wa kitamaduni kama muziki wa programu uliopendekezwa na mashairi ya sauti ya Richard Strauss, "kuonyesha na kutoa usemi wa muziki kwa shairi la Richard Dehmel". Anaendelea kusema kwamba muziki haionyeshi hatua yoyote au mchezo wa kuigiza bali ni badala ya "kuzuia kuelezea asili na kuelezea hisia za kibinadamu". Muziki huonyesha maana iliyo nyuma ya shairi... Tayari umejiandikisha? Tafadhali saini katika Sisi ni furaha kwamba wewe ni kufurahia tovuti yetu. Kwa muda mdogo, unaweza kujaribu usajili wa mtandaoni wa The Strad bila malipo kabisa.