Ever since i was a young bass player there has been a bass excerpt that has haunted me. Ein Heldenleben by Richard Strauss. Though it doesn't look to menacing, it is. Its like the killer rabbit from Monty python and the holy grail. At first you think "that looks harmless" and then it bites your throat out, that's Heldenleben. An excerpt that'll crush your fingers like a trash compactor. It will chop up your Phalanges like a garbage disposal. your fingers will be bleeding for weeks! Okay maybe its not that bad, but ill tell you this; don't even think about attempting this without practicing arpeggios first. That's basically what it is. though it isn't one of those easy arpeggios. It's one that goes between all 4 strings and 3 different octaves. It sounds amazing but its just so difficult .
Ein Heldenleben is a tone poem. Tone poems are different than normal orchestral pieces. They are one continuous movement that can be as long as an entire symphony. Like opera tone poems seek to combine music and drama. Unlike opera there is no vocal part. Currently in orchestra we are playing Scheherazade. Though its not a tone poem it is composed in a similar manner. Sadly I don't think we'll ever get to play Ein Heldenleben. Even though we are Okemos Philharmonic Orchestra, Ein Heldenleben is just too difficult.
Ein Heldenleben is a tone poem. Tone poems are different than normal orchestral pieces. They are one continuous movement that can be as long as an entire symphony. Like opera tone poems seek to combine music and drama. Unlike opera there is no vocal part. Currently in orchestra we are playing Scheherazade. Though its not a tone poem it is composed in a similar manner. Sadly I don't think we'll ever get to play Ein Heldenleben. Even though we are Okemos Philharmonic Orchestra, Ein Heldenleben is just too difficult.