Richard Strauss (1864 – 1949)
Recordings
- 1974 – La Chevalier a la Rose (Bamberg Symphony Orchestra)
- 1979 – Strauss: Music for Symphonic Brass (Locke Brass Consort)
- 1980 – In Our Time (Solna Brass)
- 1983 – Masterpieces for Brass (University of Minnesota Brass Choir)
- 1997 – Eine Alpensinfonie (Vienna Philharmonic – Seiji Ozawa)
- 1997 – Richard Strauss: Complete Music for Winds and Brass, Vol. 2
- 2001 – Winds of Nagual (Northwestern University Wind Ensemble)
- 2003 – Summit Brass Live (Summit Brass)
- 2023 – Incantations (Geca Brass)
- 2023 – Deified (National Brass Ensemble)
- 2025 – The Brass Choirs of Richard Strauss (Mystic Brass Ensemble)
Instrumentation
E-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV-V-VI
Horn in E-flat I-II-III-IV-V-VI-VII-VIII
Trombone I-II-III-IV-V-VI
Tuba I-II
Timpani I-II
Commissioned for the 40th anniversary of the Vienna Philharmonic, Richard Strauss’s Wiener Philharmoniker Fanfare (AV 109) holds a unique place in the history of the legendary ensemble. Premiered on March 4, 1924, this brass masterwork was composed specifically for the orchestra’s first-ever benefit ball—a festive gala intended to bolster the Philharmonic’s pension fund.
Designed as a ceremonial fanfare, the piece was played to herald the arrival of honored guests at the event. Strauss, who dedicated the composition to the orchestra, demonstrated his characteristic affinity for striking, vibrant brass textures within this short but stirring work. The original manuscript remains a prized fixture in the Vienna Philharmonic’s archives.
Though compact in scale, the Fanfare remains a testament to the enduring relationship between Strauss and the musicians of Vienna. Its legacy continues to modern times, most notably serving a ceremonial role during the coronation of King Charles III and Camilla in May 2023.
Approximately 2:30 minutes in duration
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