Danse macabre
by Ernest Pingoud
Totentanz
pour grand orchestre
Description
Pingoud caused a great stir with his modernism at the first concert of his works in Helsinki in November 1918. Possibly the weightiest item on the programme was the Danse macabre (also known as Totentanz), which is thought to have been composed partly in the atmosphere of Finland’s tragic civil war of 1918. In addition to the searing chromaticism and grotesque waltz rhythms there is a snatch of an old Dies irae melody. In 1933 Pingoud revised the work, adding a mixed choir that sings without words.
© Kimmo Korhonen, 3/2000 (translated by © Susan Sinisalo)
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Pingoud herätti modernismillaan suurta kohua ensimmäisessä sävellyskonsertissaan Helsingissä marraskuussa 1918. Konsertin ehkä painokkain teos oli Danse macabre (esiintyy myös nimellä Totentanz), jonka on arveltu syntyneen osittain Suomen vuoden 1918 traagisen sisällissodan ilmapiirissä. Teoksessa esiintyy repivän kromatiikan ja groteskien valssirytmien ohella katkelma vanhasta Dies irae -sävelmästä. Vuonna 1933 Pingoud laati teoksesta uuden version, johon on lisätty tekstitöntä osuutta laulava sekakuoro.
© Kimmo Korhonen, 3/2000
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Instrumentation 3333 4331 22 2, org, chx (2nd version), str
Instrument codes
| Abbreviation | Instrument |
|---|
| Woodwind | |
|---|
| acl | alto clarinet |
| afl | alto flute |
| arec | alto recorder |
| asax | alto saxophone |
| barsax | baritone saxophone |
| barhn | baritone horn |
| bcl | bass clarinet |
| bfl | bass flute |
| bob | bass oboe |
| bsax | bass saxophone |
| bsn | bassoon |
| cbsn | contrabassoon |
| cl | clarinet |
| ehn | English horn |
| fl | flute |
| hn | French horn |
| ob | oboe |
| pic | piccolo |
| rec | recorder |
| sax | saxophone |
| srec | soprano recorder |
| ssax | soprano saxophone |
| trec | tenor recorder |
| tsax | tenor saxophone |
| Brass | |
|---|
| ahn | alto horn |
| atrb | altotrombone |
| barhn | baritone horn |
| btrb | bass trombone |
| cornet | cornet |
| euph | euphonium |
| fhn | flugelhorn |
| hn | French horn |
| tba | tuuba |
| thn | tenor horn |
| trb | trombone |
| trp | trumpet |
| Percussion | |
|---|
| dr | drums |
| glock | glockenspiel |
| mar | marimba |
| perc | percussion |
| timp | timpani |
| vibr | vibraphone |
| xyl | xylophone |
| Strings | |
|---|
| db | double bass |
| gamba | viola da gamba |
| str | strings |
| vla | viola |
| vlc | cello |
| vln | violin |
| Other | |
|---|
| acc | accordion |
| cel | celesta |
| cemb | harpsichord |
| chords | chords |
| elbas | electric bass |
| elg | electric guitar |
| elorg | electric organ |
| elpno | electric piano |
| guit | guitar |
| harm | harmonium |
| hca | harmonica |
| hp | harp |
| instr | instrument |
| kantele | kantele |
| keyb | keyboard |
| live electr | live electronics |
| mand | mandolin |
| mel | melody |
| org | organ |
| pno | piano |
| synth | synthesizer |
| tape | tape |
| Vocal | |
|---|
| alto | alto |
| baryt | baritone |
| basso | bass voice |
| ch | choir |
| chc | childrens choir |
| chf | female choir |
| chm | male choir |
| chx | mixed choir |
| cten | countertenor |
| mezzo | mezzo-soprano |
| sopr | soprano |
| speaker | speaker |
| ten | tenor |
| voc | vocal |
Coding for instrument ensembles and orchestras
| Symphony orchestra | |
|---|
| 2222 4331 11 1, str = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 French horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, one other percussionist, harp and strings |
| Wind band | |
|---|
| 2252 3 423 21212 3 = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 5 clarinets, 2 bassoons - 3 saxophones - 4 French horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones - 2 cornets, alto horn, 2 tenor horns, baritone horn, 2 tubas - 3 percussionists |
| Big band | |
|---|
| 221 4 4, pno, guit, db, dr = 2 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, baritone saxophone, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, guitar, double bass, drums |
| Additional codes | |
|---|
| + | fl+pic = flutist doubles on piccolo |
| / | pno/org = can be played on either piano or organ |
| lib | ad libitum |
| obl | obligato |
| str | str: 65432 = specified number of string players |
| str min | str min: 65432 = at least 65432 |
| str max | str max: 65432 = not more than 65432 |
| solo | vln solo = violin is the solo instrument in a work not obviously for solo violin |
Category Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble
Opus no. op. 10
Premiere
(1st version): Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, dir. Ernest Pingoud, Helsinki, November 16, 1918. (2nd version): Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, dir. Georg Schnéevoigt, Helsinki, April 7, 1933
Archive number MF6230
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