SAINT-SAENS – Danse Macabre, Op.40 – FOUR CELLOS

Other Identification:
Danse macabre, Op. 40, is a tone poem for orchestra, written in 1874 by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns. It was premiered on 24th January 1875; however, it started out in 1872 as a song for voice and piano with a French text by the poet Henri Cazalis, based on the play ‘Danza macàbra’ by Camillo Antona-Traversi. Then, in 1874, the composer expanded and reworked the piece into a tone poem, replacing the vocal line with a solo violin part. It is in the key of G minor.

In its premiere it was not well received and even caused widespread feelings of anxiety. The 21st century scholar, Roger Nichols, mentions adverse reaction to “the deformed Dies irae plainsong”, the “horrible screeching from solo violin”, the use of a xylophone, and “the hypnotic repetitions”, in which Nichols hears a pre-echo of Ravel’s Boléro.

Shortly after the premiere, the piece was transcribed into a piano solo arrangement by Franz Liszt, who was a good friend of Saint-Saëns. In 1942, Vladimir Horowitz made extensive changes to the Liszt transcription. This is the arranged version that is played most often today. Indeed, today, it is considered one of Saint-Saëns’ masterpieces, widely regarded and reproduced in both high and popular culture.