Strauss, Richard. (1864–1949) [Panzner, Karl. (1866–1923)]
Ein Heldenleben. Tondichtung für großes Orchester [...] Op. 40.
Leipzig: Leuckart. 1899. First Edition. Full score. Large upright folio. 139 pp. [PN] 5200. Rubbed and bumped, spine shaken and splitting from the block. Conductor's markings throughout in graphite and colored pencil. The head of the first page of score with the stamp of the Philharmonische Concerte Bremen. Mueller von Asow Bd. 1, p. 241; Trenner, p. 179 (Nr. 190).The very rare first edition of the conducting score. Presumably, the markings are from Karl Panzner (1866-1923), who led the Philharmonic in Bremen between 1899 and 1909 (Ernst Wendel succeeded him from 1909 to 1935). Composed in the second half of the year 1898, Strauss's monumental tone poem 'Ein Heldenlebe'n (A Hero's Life), is generally agreed to be autobiographical in tone, despite contradictory statements on the matter by the composer. The work, which lasts about fifty minutes is through-composed, except for a dramatic grand pause at the end of the first movement. Though Strauss did not write a program for the work, he did supply the movement titles as follows, which are written in pencil at the head of each section in our copy: "Der Held" (The Hero); "Des Helden Widersacher" (The Hero's Adversaries); "Des Helden Gefährtin" (The Hero's Companion); "Des Helden Walstatt" (The Hero at Battle); "Des Helden Friedenswerke" (The Hero's Works of Peace); "Des Helden Weltflucht und Vollendung" (The Hero's Retirement from this World and Consummation). Strauss dedicated the piece to the 27-year-old Willem Mengelberg and the Concertgebouw Orchestra. However, it was premiered by the Frankfurter Opern- und Museumsorchester on March 3, 1899 in Frankfurt, with the composer conducting. (11517)
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