Sibelius – Belshazzar’s Feast
Video-masterclass with: Michael Cox – Principal BBC Symphony Orchestra
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Work:
Belshazzar’s Feast is incidental music by Jean Sibelius to a play of the same name by the journalist, poet and playwright Hjalmar Fredrik Eugen Procopé.
Composed:
1906
First Performance:
The first performance of the play and its incidental music was at the Swedish Theatre in Helsinki on 7 November 1906, conducted by the composer. It had 21 performances through to January 1907.
Movements:
Incidental music
- 1. Alla marcia (Act I)
- 2a. Nocturne (a prelude to Act II)
- 2b. The Jewish Girl’s Song (Act II)
- 3. Allegretto (Act III)
- 4. Dance of Life (Act III)
- 5. Dance of Death (Act III)
- 6. (Part of No. 4)
- 7. Tempo sostenuto (Act IV)
- 8. Allegro (Act IV)
- 9. (Repeat of No. 4)
- 10. (Repeat of No. 5)
Suite
The suite was scored for two flutes (2nd doubling piccolo), 1 oboe, 2 clarinets, 2 horns, percussion (bass drum, cymbals, tambourine, triangle) and strings.
- Oriental March (originally Alla marcia)
- Solitude (originally The Jewish Girl’s Song)
- Nocturne (originally Prelude: Notturno)
- Khadra’s Dance (originally Dance of Life and Dance of Death)
Video lesson by:
Michael Cox
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