Plural Sax

Sax Choir

The Valkyrie

Richard Wagner, arr. Ben Tordoff

Composed:
1870
Arranged:
2024
Grouping:
lsSSAAACTTTBBbc
Duration:
02:30

The opening of the third act of Wagner's 'Die Walküre' has become one of his best known and most played pieces. It depicts the Valkyries riding down to meet on a mountain-top ready to gather warriors fallen in battle and carry them back to Valhalle.

The 'Ride of the Valkyries' became instantly popular but Wagner forbade its performance outside of the Opera itself. His publisher, however, had other ideas and despite his objections published and sold it as a stand-alone piece. Wagner relented on his embargo once the complete 'Ring' opera cycle had been performed and it has been a staple of the orchestral repertoire ever since.

The distinctive opening features high trilling in the upper parts then the gradual arrival of the syncopated bass-line in the lower parts. The texture thickens with more layers of runs and trills before the main theme rings out in the tenor section. This is then carried into the lower parts. The first call from the Valkrie Gerhilde and the answer from Helmwiges are taken by the sopranos before we return to the main theme.

This arrangement for full saxophone choir was created specially for Whittlesey Saxophone Choir as an opener for their first proper concert in 2025. It is a faithful translation of just the first part of the movement from the orchestral original.


Cover image
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© 2024 Ben Tordoff

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This music is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution Licence.