Raff - Symphony No. 9 - II. The Hunt of the Elves - Allegro
798 views · Published 13 July 2012 · 10:32 · Indexed 14 October 2026
Channel: DGatsby · 2012 · Music
Joachim Raff is a neglected master! This is the second movement from his ninth symphony, entitled "The hunt of the elves. Gathering of the elves; Oberon and Titania; the hunt; Return of the elves with Oberon and Titania" From Raff.org: "Die Jagd der Elfen. Versammlung der Elfen; Oberon und Titania; die Jagd; Rückkehr der Elfen mit Oberon & Titania (The hunt of the elves. Gathering of the elves; Oberon and Titania; the hunt; Return of the elves with Oberon and Titania). This fleet footed scherzo in F major is one of the few examples of Raff acknowledging an explicit literary inspiration, in this case Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream". He is in top form here, clothing his memorable melodies in a delicately fey orchestral palette which recalls, but does not ape, Mendelssohn's incidental music of 40 years earlier. The prominent horn calls and intertwining concertante parts for solo cello (Oberon) and solo violin (Titania) contribute to the piece's episodic structure which faithfully illustrates the extensive programme, which Raff may have decided to make more explicit after the premiere; its original title of Oberons und Titanias Liebesgesang (Oberon and Titania's song of love) doesn't adequately describe all that is going on here.."
