Don Quixote (Strauss)
Don Quixote, Fantastic Variations on a Theme of Knightly Character, Op 35, is a tone poem by Richard Strauss for solo cello, solo viola and orchestra. It is based on the novel Don Quijote de la Mancha by the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes. It is composed in the form of a Sinfonia Concertante, with a solo cello, representing the figure of Don Quixote, as well as violas, tenor tubas and bass clarinet soloists who constitute Sancho Panza.
Strauss composed the work in 1897 in Munich.
The premiere took place in Cologne Gurzenich on 8 March 1898. It conducted Franz Wüllner.
The score initially contains no program, but the composer has written to the various sections of the work subsequently short programmatic explanations for better understanding.
The second variation depicts an episode in which Don Quixote encounters a flock of sheep and keep them for an approaching army. Strauss uses dissonant flutter tongue play to imitate the bleating of sheep. This is one of the first occurrence of this technique.
Instrumentation
The plant is staffed as follows: piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets in B ( 2 in Eb), Bass Clarinet, 3 bassoons, contrabassoon, 6 horns in F, 3 trumpets in D, 3 trombones, tenor tuba ( euphonium) in B, bass tuba, timpani, triangle, bass drum, cymbals, snare drum, tambourine, wind machine, harp and strings.