Kurt Weill
Suite
Short instrumentation: 2 2 2 2 - 4 2 2 1 - timp, perc(2), hp, pno, guit, str
Duration: 16'
Bearbeitet von: Max Schönherr
Instrumentation details:
1st flute
2nd flute (+picc)
1st oboe
2nd oboe
1st clarinet in A (+cl(Bb))
2nd clarinet in A (+cl(Bb))
1st bassoon
2nd bassoon
1st horn in F
2nd horn in F
3rd horn in F
4th horn in F
1st trumpet in Bb
2nd trumpet in Bb
1st trombone
2nd trombone
tuba (or 3rd trombone)
timpani
percussion(2)
guitar
harp
piano (+cel)
violin I
violin II
viola
violoncello
contrabass
Weill - Suite for orchestra
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Audio preview
Work introduction
The idea for the Suite from The Threepenny Opera came to Max Schönherr, who was himself a composer and conductor, in 1949. At the time, he was Kapellmeister of the RAVAG Radio Orchestra in Vienna, the first Austrian radio company. Kurt Weill authorized the arrangement for "normal" orchestra, but wrote to the director of UE, Alfred Schlee, on August 5, 1949:
In the matter of the new instrumentation of the Threepenny Music I had in the meantime a letter from Mr. Schönherr, from which I take it that he has made an arrangement of the music for large concert orchestra, which he wants to perform on the Vienna Radio. Of course, I have no doubt that Mr. Schönherr has produced a good orchestration of my music and that his situation allows him to perform it several times on Vienna Radio. On the other hand, you will understand that I wonder whether I should not perform this task myself, since it is one of my most important works and such an arrangement may become an important repertoire piece for orchestra. Please let me know what you think, and in the meantime please convey my thanks and binding greetings to Mr Schönherr.
Kurt Weill could no longer put this plan into practice. The UE published the Suite from “The Threepenny Opera” in the version by Max Schönherr in 1950.
The Suite represents an orchestration of the Little Threepenny Music, whereby 3 numbers from the Little Threepenny Music were not used (Anstatt-daß-Song, Tango-Ballade, Dreigroschenfinale), but the Love Song was added:
1 Overture
2 The Ballad of Mack the Knife
3 Love Song
4 The ballad of the easy life
5 Polly's Song
6 Cannon Song
The world première with live radio broadcast took place on 5 November 1950 in Vienna.