Kindertotenspiel

Description:

Kindertotenspiel is inspired by the Feast of the Holy Innocents, a religious festival commemorating the slaughter of first-born male children by Herod following the birth of Jesus. In medieval Europe, the Feast of the Holy Innocents was a festival based around rolereversal between children and adults, meaning that children would play tricks on the adults, and preside over teaching and religious duties. Today, many countries still celebrate the slaughter of the innocents in a similar way to April Fools’ Day.

The music for Kindertotenspiel constantly switches between silliness and violence. Some of the music is both silly and violent at the same time. The title Kindertotenspiel roughly translates as ‘play on the death of children'.

Full Scoring:

Strings: 3.2.2.2.2

Woodwinds: 2.2.2.2

Brass: 2.2.2.1

Harp

2 Percussion

Piano