Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30 is a tone poem by Richard Strauss, composed in 1896 and inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophical novel Thus Spoke Zarathustra. The composer conducted its first performance on 27 November 1896 in Frankfurt.

The initial fanfare – titled “Sunrise” in the composer’s programme notes – became well known after its use in Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. A lot of people think that this introduction is actually the whole piece but a typical performance lasts about half an hour and contains some outstanding music.

The piece is divided into nine sections played with only three definite pauses. Strauss named the sections after selected chapters of the Friedrich Nietzsche novel:

1. “Einleitung, oder Sonnenaufgang” (Introduction, or Sunrise)

2. “Von den Hinterweltlern” (Of the Backworldsmen)

3. “Von der großen Sehnsucht” (Of the Great Longing)

4. “Von den Freuden und Leidenschaften” (Of Joys and Passions)

5. “Das Grablied” (The Song of the Grave)

6. “Von der Wissenschaft” (Of Science and Learning)

7. “Der Genesende” (The Convalescent)

8. “Das Tanzlied” (The Dance Song)

9. “Nachtwandlerlied” (Song of the Night Wanderer)

These selected chapters from Nietzsche’s novel highlight major moments of the character Zarathustra’s philosophical journey in the novel. The general storylines and ideas in these chapters were the inspiration used to build the tone poem’s structure. These topics are as diverse as Strauss’ music: they evoke the future of humanity, the desire for power, nature, religion, the importance of dance and of laughter……..Crikey! That’s quite a programme.

Strauss was not really the most humble of composers, and that attracted criticisms, of course. When Thus Spoke Zarathustra was created, critics accused him of trying to interpret Nietzsche’s philosophical theories. In response to the criticisms, Strauss clarified that he “did not intend to write philosophical music, nor to musically translate Nietzsche’s great work”, but he only “wanted to create an overall picture of the development of the human race since its beginnings until the Nietzschean concept of Übermensch”. An overall picture??? Again, that is some picture.

The famous “Sunrise” beginning sometimes makes us forget the rest of the piece. If on one hand the three notes are continuously repeated throughout the piece, the rest has a more romantic and lyrical tone. One of the greatest aspects of ‘Zarathustra’ is the constantly changing atmosphere, colour and rhythm but the thread that binds all of the movements together is those famous three notes from the introduction. The rest of the piece is there waiting to be discovered!

If Thus Spoke Zarathustra is so popular today, it is because its introduction was used in the amazing opening scene of the 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, where Strauss‘ music accompanies a solar eclipse. Stanley Kubrick’s film places great emphasis on classical music, with pieces from contemporary composer György Ligeti and On The Beautiful Blue Danube, a waltz by Johann (no relation) Strauss II.

This introduction owes its success to its magnificent tone. After all, it musically paints the sunrise up on the mountain, from the very first ray of sunshine to the sublime image of the enlightened summits. A long note on the organ describes the obscurity that is still present, then three notes on the trumpet (C – G – C) evoke the first rays, and they are then amplified by the rest of the brass fanfare, the organ, and finally all the orchestra, in a triumphant conclusion. With its brass instruments, timpani and church organ, the orchestra is at the peak of its power. More than a sunrise, it could even be the birth of the universe summed up in three music notes, from nothingness (the sustained double low C, a fundamental note for a Western musician) to sunrise (G), to light (high C).

It may interest you to know that Elvis Presley used the opening fanfare as the opening piece in his concerts between 1971 and his death in 1977, and as the introduction to several of his live albums, including Elvis: As Recorded at Madison Square Garden (1972), Aloha from Hawaii Via Satellite (1973), and Elvis in Concert (1977).

Also Eumir Deodato’s funk-influenced arrangement of the opening fanfare Sunrise theme reached No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 2 in The US. His version was titled “Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)”, and won the 1974 Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed researching it. The film is taken from a Proms concert of 2009 that I attended.

Richard Strauss – Also Sprach Zarathustra

Recorded at The BBC Proms 2009

Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester

Jonathon Nott – Conductor

As a bonus here is the Deodato version as well……..the band on this is a veritable who’s who of 1970s jazz.

Eumir Deodato – piano, electric piano

Ron Carter – electric bass, bass

Stanley Clarke – electric bass

Billy Cobham – drums

John Tropea – electric guitar

Jay Berliner – guitar

Airto Moreira – percussion

Ray Barretto – congas

Deodato – Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001)