A book for all and none
19.08.2022
Ahead of our upcoming concert, Cinematic, conductor Benjamin Northey deconstructs the famous Also sprach Zarathustra and provides a listening guide to help you understand the story behind the music.
Richard Strauss composed Also sprach Zarathustra in 1896 as a musical response to philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s book of the same name. Nietzsche’s revolutionary book influenced many artists and philosophers, but few took Nietzsche’s musings to the level Strauss did. Let’s take a look at the movements of this iconic work.
Movement I: Sunrise
One of the most recognised pieces of classical music, thanks to Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, is all about nature and its enigma; how small and insignificant we feel when faced with nature and its sublime power.
Movement II: Of the Back-worlds-men | Movement III: Of the Great Longing | Movement IV: Of Joys and Passions
Nietzsche reasons that most people find life on earth imperfect, making them long for a perfect existence like that of Heaven. This struggle between faith and nature crescendos as upward-thrusting motifs rumble from the depths of the orchestra, leading Of Joys and Passions. However, these joys soon collapse and leave us with yet another question: Is this endless search sustainable?
Movement V: The Funeral Song | Movement VI: Of Science
The protagonist of Nietzsche’s novel, Zarathustra, is divided by nature, passions and religion, and decides to bury all his thoughts and turn to science. Suggesting the scientific quest is the answer to understanding the natural world, this subject later becomes a fugue - one of the most scientific types of musical composition.
Movement VII: The Convalescent | Movement VIII: The Dance Song
The Convalescent begins with a build-up of intensity until the nature motif makes its return with a powerful full orchestra. Following this section, a waltz begins that symbolises the harmony between humankind and nature.
Are we finally able to solve this riddle of existence? Do we have the answers?
Movement IX: Song of the Night Wanderer
Just as we saw in the previous sections, the waltz also comes to a climax, unsustainable and consuming, leaving Zarathustra with twelve strokes of a bell to signal midnight and the hint of the coming of this final section. Zarathustra’s quest of finding the meaning of life ends unsolved.
The readers of Nietzsche’s novel and the listeners of Strauss’ epic work are left to ponder that maybe the important thing is not the answer but the journey.
Fri 26 & Sat 27 August 2022, 7.30pm
Perth Concert Hall