Siegfried's Story
"Brassy revamp for Wagner" (The Age, 29 April 2020). Mark Papworth’s arrangement of highlights from Wagner’s Ring of the Nibelung for horn, tuba and piano traces the cycle as chamber drama.
Siegfried's Story gathers twelve movements from all four operas of Wagner’s Ring of the Nibelung, scored for horn, tuba and piano.
The combination is less odd than it first appears. Wagner wrote so much of his grandest writing for horns and low brass that the lines sit naturally on this trio: horn takes the melody, tuba the bass, and piano the busy string figuration, turning the orchestral score into dramatic chamber music.
The selection follows the cycle’s narrative order, from the opening of Das Rheingold through to Siegfried’s Rhine journey and funeral march in Götterdämmerung.
Siegfried’s Story began with an idea I had to do a “tribute” concert to one of the leading nineteenth-century horn players, Franz Strauss, and his famous son, the composer Richard Strauss. Franz Strauss performed in the premiere of several of Wagner’s operas, and although Wagner and Strauss don’t appear to have gotten along, Wagner had a great deal of respect for his horn playing. I originally intended on doing a concert featuring the music of Franz and Richard Strauss along with Wagner’s famous horn call from the third opera of the Ring cycle, Siegfried.
I got the idea to arrange a couple of the musical interludes from the Ring cycle for horn and piano to fill out the concert. Whilst I never actually ended up presenting the concert, the idea of arranging highlights of the Ring cycle grew. I arranged eight movements for horn and piano before a conversation with Per Forsberg led me to adding a tuba part as well. Eventually I added four more movements and it became the twelve-movement work that features on this CD.
Reviews
Melodies are usually given to the horn and bass notes to the tuba; the piano has the task of filling in for the rest of the orchestra … exposing the structure of the music and allowing us to listen to it afresh.
Siegfried’s Story is an intriguing take on parts of the Ring, in which the combination of horn, tuba and piano provides a fascinating perspective on the music. Listening to this was an experience that became increasingly enjoyable and fascinating. It is arranged and played with love and care.
Brassy revamp for Wagner
Artists
Mark Papworth
Mark Papworth is a Melbourne tram driver and highly accomplished horn player. At home on baroque, natural and modern instruments, he studied in Melbourne, Perth and the United States.
Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner forged music drama in which continuous song, orchestra and stage action move as one. Leitmotifs, dense chromatic harmony and blazing brass drive the Ring cycle, Tristan and the mature stage works that still shape how opera sounds.
Per Forsberg
Per Forsberg grew up in Torsby, Sweden, and studied Tuba with Christer Palm, Carl Jakobsson and Michael Lind before coming to Melbourne in 1999 as an exchange student to study with Fabian Russell.
Rosa Scaffidi
Rosa Scaffidi began her life-long love affair with the piano and its mighty repertoire at the age of 2. She is an extremely versatile musician, and is highly skilled in the interpretation of many musical styles as well as being a proficient improviser.
Tracks
- Prelude to Das Rheingold 5:11
- Sanft schloss Schlaf dein Aug’ 7:47
- Entrance of the gods into Valhalla 4:28
- Prelude to Die Walküre 2:58
- Winterstürme 3:51
- Ride of the Valkyries 3:00
- Wotan’s farewell and magic fire music 3:50
- Forest murmurs 6:14
- Siegfried’s horn call 2:04
- Prelude and Introduction to Act 3 4:57
- Siegfried’s Rhine journey 7:54
- Siegfried’s funeral march 8:32
Das Rheingold Richard Wagner Arr: Mark Papworth
Die Walküre Richard Wagner Arr: Mark Papworth
Siegfried Richard Wagner Arr: Mark Papworth
Götterdämmerung Richard Wagner Arr: Mark Papworth
Performers
- Mark Papworth · horn, wagner tuba
- Per Forsberg · all except track 9
- Rosa Scaffidi · all except track 9
Where to listen
Siegfried's Story is available for streaming through Spotify and Apple Music. It can also be purchased through the iTunes Music Store.
Siegfried's Story is available as a CD. It can be purchased online through Buywell Music or the Australian Music Centre which both offer online ordering.
Product details
- Catalogue number
- MCD 597
- List price
- $25.00 AUD
- Total playing time
- 60 minutes 46 seconds
- Producer
- Martin Wright
- Release date
- 15 Dec 2019
- Musical work
copyright - © 2020 Mark Papworth
- Sound recording
copyright - ℗ 2020 Move Records
- Category
- Classical
- Genres
- Romantic & Impressionist, Vocal & Opera
- Barcode
- EAN 9314574059724
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