Canon
Where to start with Strauss
Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
OrchestralAlso sprach Zarathustra, op. 30
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VocalFour Last Songs, TrV296, WoO150
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StageDer Rosenkavalier, op. 59, TrV227, "musical comedy"
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ChamberMetamorphosen, for 23 solo strings, op. 142, TrV290
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OrchestralDon Juan, op. 20, TrV156
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OrchestralEine Alpensinfonie, op. 64, TrV233
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OrchestralTill Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, op. 28, Trv171
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OrchestralTod und Verklärung, op. 24, TrV158
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OrchestralDon Quixote: Fantastic Variations for Cello and Orchestra, op. 35, TrV184
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OrchestralDuet-Concertino for Clarinet, Bassoon, Harp and Strings, TrV293
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OrchestralEin Heldenleben, op. 40, TrV190
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StageElektra, op. 58, TrV223
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OrchestralHorn Concerto no. 2 in E flat major, TrV283
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OrchestralOboe Concerto in D major, WoO144, TrV292
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StageSalome, op. 54, TrV215
Listening guide
Hand-curated paths into Strauss's catalogueMost Popular
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Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001 opening)
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Der Rosenkavalier (waltzes)
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Four Last Songs
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Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche
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Death and Transfiguration
Most Acclaimed
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Elektra (opera)
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Salome (opera)
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Metamorphosen for 23 strings
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Der Rosenkavalier
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Oboe Concerto
Most Weird
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Metamorphosenwritten as Germany collapsed in 1945 — 23 solo string instruments, 28 minutes of elegy; quotes Beethoven’s Eroica funeral march in the bass at the end
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Elektrathe harmony at the start is so extreme that Schoenberg thought Strauss had converted to atonality; the ”Elektra chord” remains unanalyzed
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Till Eulenspiegelthe horn solo represents Till screaming on the gallows before his execution; then a final playful pizzicato — he gets the last laugh
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Symphonia Domesticaprogram symphony depicting a day in the Strauss household — including a baby’s bath and the parents’ lovemaking
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Capriccio (opera)his last opera — about the debate between words and music; the Countess chooses neither composer nor poet; 2.5 hours of unresolved ambiguity
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 167
- Orchestral
- ● Also sprach Zarathustra, op. 30
- ● Don Juan, op. 20, TrV156
- ● Eine Alpensinfonie, op. 64, TrV233
- ● Till Eulenspiegels lustige Streiche, op. 28, Trv171
- ● Tod und Verklärung, op. 24, TrV158
- Don Quixote: Fantastic Variations for Cello and Orchestra, op. 35, TrV184
- Duet-Concertino for Clarinet, Bassoon, Harp and Strings, TrV293
- Ein Heldenleben, op. 40, TrV190
- Horn Concerto no. 2 in E flat major, TrV283
- Oboe Concerto in D major, WoO144, TrV292
- 2 Military Marches, op. 57, TrV221
- 4 Symphonic Intermezzi,TrV246a
- Aus Italien, symphonic fantasy, op. 16, TrV147
- Burleske for Piano and Orchestra in D minor, TrV145
- Capriccio: Mondscheinmusik, for orchestra
- Dance Suite from Keyboard Pieces by François Couperin, TrV 245
- Der Rosenkavalier, TrV227d — Suite from the opera
- Der Rosenkavalier: Waltz Sequence no. 1, TrV227c
- Der Rosenkavalier: Waltz Sequence no. 2, TrV227a
- Die Frau ohne Schatten: Symphonic Fantasy from the Opera, TrV234a
- Fanfare zur Eröffnung der Musikwoche der Stadt Wien im September 1924, for brass and timpani, TrV250
- Feierlicher Einzug der Ritter des Johanniter-Ordens, for brass and timpani, WoO103, TrV224
- Festliches Präludium, for organ and orchestra, op. 61, TrV 229
- Festmarsch in E flat major, op. 1, TrV 43
- Festmusik der Stadt Wien, for brass and timpani, TrV286
- Horn Concerto no. 1 in E flat major, op. 11, TrV117
- Japanische Festmusik, op. 84, TrV277
- Macbeth, op. 23, TrV163
- München, commemorative waltz WoO140
- Parergon zur Sinfonia Domestica, for piano, left hand and orchestra, op. 73, TrV209a
- Romance in E flat major for Clarinet and Orchestra, WoO61, TrV80
- Romance in F for Cello and Orchestra, WoO75, TrV118
- Schlagobers, suite from the ballet op. 70
- Serenade for 13 wind instruments in E flat major, op. 7, TrV106
- Sinfonia domestica, op. 53, TrV209
- Sonatina no. 1 in F for Wind Instruments, "From an Invalid's Workshop"
- Symphony for Wind Instruments Op. posth., "Frohliche Werkstatt"
- Symphony no. 1 in D minor, TrV94
- Symphony no. 2 in F minor, op. 12
- Violin Concerto in D minor, op. 8, TrV110
- Wiener Philharmoniker Fanfare, for brass and timpani, TrV248
- Vocal
- ● Four Last Songs, TrV296, WoO150
- 2 Lieder, op. 26, TrV166
- 2 Männerchöre, TrV194
- 2 Songs, for alto or bass and orchestra, op. 44, TrV197, "Grössere Gesänge"
- 2 Songs, for chorus, op. 34
- 3 Choruses, for male chorus, TrV 270
- 3 Gesänge älterer deutscher Dichter, op. 43, TrV196
- 3 Hymns of Friedrich Hölderlin, op. 71
- 3 Lieder, TrV75
- 3 Lieder, op. 29, TrV172
- 3 Lieder, op. 31, TrV173
- 4 Gesänge, op. 33, TrV180
- 4 Lieder, op. 27, TrV170
- 4 Lieder, op. 36, TrV186
- 5 Gedichte, op. 46, TrV199
- 5 Kleine Lieder, op. 69, TrV237
- 5 Lieder, op. 15, TrV148
- 5 Lieder, op. 32, TrV174
- 5 Lieder, op. 39, TrV189
- 5 Lieder, op. 41, TrV195
- 5 Lieder, op. 47, TrV200
- 5 Lieder, op. 48, TrV 202
- 5 Lieder, op. 48, TrV202
- 6 Lieder aus Lotosblätter, op. 19, TrV152
- 6 Lieder, op. 17, TrV149
- 6 Lieder, op. 37, TrV187
- 6 Lieder, op. 56, TrV220
- 6 Lieder, op. 67, TrV238
- 6 Lieder, op. 68, TrV235
- 6 Volksliedbearbeitungen, for male chorus, TrV216
- 8 Gedichte aus Letzte Blätter, op. 10, TrV141
- 8 Lieder, op. 49, TrV204
- Abend- und Morgenrot, TrV60
- Alphorn, song for voice, horn and piano, WoO29, TrV 64, "Ein Alphorn hör' ich schallen"
- An den Baum Daphne, WoO137, TrV 272a
- Aus der Kindheit, TrV65
- Begegnung, TrV98
- Blick vom oberen Belvedere, op. 88, TrV281
- Das Bächlein, op. 88, no. 1, TrV264
- Das Schloss am Meere, melodrama for narrator and piano, op. 92, TrV191
- Der Fischer, TrV48
- Der mude Wanderer, TrV16
- Deutsche Motette, for soloists and chorus, op. 62, TrV230
- Die Drossel, TrV49
- Die Göttin im Putzzimmer, for double chorus, WoO120, TrV267
- Die Tageszeiten, for male chorus and orchestra, op. 76, TrV 256
- Die erwachte Rose, TrV90
- Durch allen Schall und Klang, TrV251
- Ein Röslein zog ich mir im Garten, WoO49, TrV67
- Einkehr, TrV3
- Enoch Arden, melodrama for narrator and piano, op. 38, TrV181
- Gesange des Orients, op. 77, TrV257
- Herbstabend, TrV226
- Husarenlied, TrV42
- Im Vaters Garten heimlich steht ein Blumlein, TrV88
- Im Walde, TrV62
- John Anderson, mein Lieb, TrV101
- Krämerspiegel, 12 songs, op. 66, TrV236
- Lass ruhn die Toten, TrV50
- Lieder, op. 87
- Lust und Qual, Tr 51
- Malven, TrV297
- Mädchenblumen, op. 22, TrV153
- Nebel, TrV65, "Du trüber Nebel hüllst mir das Tal"
- Olympic Hymn, for chorus and orchestra, TrV 266
- Rote Rosen, TrV119
- Sankt Michael, op. 88, TrV280
- Schlichte Weisen, op. 21, TrV160
- Sinnspruch, TrV239
- Soldatenlied, TrV66
- Spielmann und Zither, TrV58
- Spruch, TrV261, Wie etwas sei leicht
- Weihnachtsgefuhl, TrV198
- Weihnachtslied, TrV2
- Wer hat's gethan?, WoO84a, TrV142, "Es steht mein Lied in Nacht und Frost"
- Wiegenlied, TrV59
- Winterreise, TrV4
- Wir beide wollen springen, TrV175
- Xenion, TrV282
- Zugemessne Rhythmen, TrV269
- Stage
- Der Rosenkavalier, op. 59, TrV227, "musical comedy"
- Elektra, op. 58, TrV223
- Salome, op. 54, TrV215
- Arabella, op. 79, TrV263
- Capriccio, op. 85, TrV279
- Daphne, op. 82, TrV272
- Der Bürger als Edelmann, op. 60, Trv228b
- Die Frau ohne Schatten, op. 65, TrV234
- Die Liebe der Danae, op. 83, TrV278, "cheerful myth"
- Die schweigsame Frau, op. 80, TrV265
- Die Ägyptische Helena, op. 75, TrV255
- Feuersnot, op. 50, TrV203
- Friedenstag, op. 81, TrV271
- Guntram, op. 25, TrV168
- Intermezzo Op.72, TrV246
- Josephslegende, op. 63, TrV 231
- Romeo and Juliet, TrV150 — Incidental music
- Chamber
- Metamorphosen, for 23 solo strings, op. 142, TrV290
- 2 Pieces for Piano Quartet, TrV169
- Allegretto in E major, for violin and piano, TrV295
- Andante in C for Horn and Piano, WoO86a, TrV155
- Andante in C major, for chamber ensemble, TrV 155
- Cello Sonata in F major, op. 6, TrV115
- Concertante, for piano, 2 violins and cello, TrV33
- Duet-Concertino for clarinet, bassoon, harp and strings, WoO147, TrV293
- Feierlicher Einzug der Ritter des Johanniter-Ordens, for brass ensemble, TrV224
- Festmarsch in D major, for piano quartet, TrV136
- Introduction, Theme, and Variations in E flat major for Horn and Piano, WoO52, TrV70
- Piano Quartet in C minor, op. 13, TrV137
- Piano Trio no. 1 in A major, TrV53
- Piano Trio no. 2 in D major, TrV71
- Romance in F major, for cello and piano
- String Quartet in A major, op. 2, TrV95
- String Sextet, op. 85, TrV279a
- Ständchen in G major, for piano quartet, TrV114
- Suite in B flat major for 13 Winds, op. 4, TrV132
- Violin Sonata in E flat major, op. 18, TrV151
- Wiener Philharmonic Fanfare, for brass and timpani, TrV248
- Keyboard
- 5 Pieces, op. 3, TrV105
- Capriccio, suite from the opera for harpsichord or piano, op. 85
- Fugue on 4 Themes, for piano, WoO71
- Königsmarsch in E flat major, WoO100, TrV217
- Parade-Marsch no. 1 des Regiments Königs-Jäger zu Pferde in E flat major, TrV213
- Parade-Marsch no. 2 für Cavallerie in D flat major, TrV222
- Piano Sonata in B minor, op. 5, TrV103
- Stimmungsbilder, for 2 pianos, op. 9, TrV127