Name: ELSA'S PROCESSION TO THE CATHEDRAL (Lohengrin)
Duration: 6 min 26 s
Channel: Richard Wagner - 1850
Description: Free MP3 download. THIS IS THE OPENING MUSIC TO ACT II, SCENE 4, FROM THE OPERA 'LOHENGRIN' WRITTEN BY RICHARD WAGNER IN 1848. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, EMOTIONAL PIECES WRITTEN FOR CONCERT BAND. TRANSCRIBED FOR BAND BY LUCIEN CAILLIET. 1ST PERFORMED IN 1850.

ELSA'S PROCESSION TO THE CATHEDRAL (Lohengrin)

Symphonic Band Performances

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THIS IS THE OPENING MUSIC TO ACT II, SCENE 4, FROM THE OPERA 'LOHENGRIN' WRITTEN BY RICHARD WAGNER IN 1848. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, EMOTIONAL PIECES WRITTEN FOR CONCERT BAND. TRANSCRIBED FOR BAND BY LUCIEN CAILLIET. 1ST PERFORMED IN 1850.

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Symphonic Band Performances

Contemporary band compositions, classical music arrangements, marches, jazz, symphonies, overtures. A collection from bands that I have played in throughout hi

Hello and welcome! "Symphonic Band Performances" is a compilation of recordings from several high school and college bands that I played in including the TMEA (Texas) All State Band, the TMEA Region X All Region Band, the Interlochen Arts Academy National Music Camp, the Cal Poly Tech Band, San Luis Obispo, the USAF Golden West Band, and recordings from my h.s. band, Beaumont H.S. and a few band recordings that were passed down to me. Also included are various All State groups and college and university bands. I participated and played in the large majority of these recordings. There are no professional recordings here and every recording is Public Domain. Most are available for free download. Each song has been converted from the original analog or digital source and edited with Audacity or Dak software. In the majority of these recordings, I play the tenor sax or alto sax, b flat or e flat clarinet, or directing. I was drum major for 2 years in high school, I have a BA from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where I studied music ed, composition and theory. I had about 500 more recordings I was planning to digitize and upload, but this past Nov. 20th, my home was completely destroyed by fire, and all the contents, including all my music and instruments. So, this is it. Please feel free to post a comment here or on my member page. If you like, please become a fan by clicking "I'm a fan" below.

Song Info

Genre

Classical • Opera

Charts

Peak #86

Peak in subgenre #2

Author

Richard Wagner - 1850

Rights

public domain

Uploaded

October 14, 2009

Track Files

MP3

MP3 8.8 MB • 192 kbps • 6:26

Story behind the song

This is performed by the 1977 North Dakota State University Gold Star Band. "Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral" is written to exploit every possible emotion related to love and passion in the band and the listener. The piece's tempo is completely up to the director, however, the arranger, Lucien Cailliet, notes that the tempo should never exceed 80 quarter note beats per minute. Tempo is specifically allowed to flux ever so slightly in order to add to the expressive feel, as long as it does not change too much too fast. The other key area to keep in mind is the fact that this is a processional, so the intensity will be slowly building until the end, when Elsa reaches the cathedral for her wedding.			Lohengrin is a romantic opera in three acts composed and written by Richard Wagner, first performed in 1850. The opera has proved inspirational towards other works of art. Several excerpts have become famous, including the preludes to the first and third acts, the opening music to Act II, Scene 4, which has been converted into the concert band piece "Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral", and the Bridal Chorus  from Act III, Scene 1 commonly known as "Here Comes the Bride."						    Act II, Scene 4:  Night in the courtyard outside the cathedral. Telramund and Ortrud, both banished, listen unhappily to the distant party-music. Ortrud, a heathen witch (pre-monotheist pagan), daughter of Radbod, the Duke of Frisia, tries to revive Telramund's courage, assuring him that her people (and he) are destined to rule the kingdom again. She plots to induce Elsa to violate the mysterious knight's only condition.
When Elsa appears on the balcony in the twilight before dawn, she hears Ortrud lamenting and takes pity upon her. While Elsa descends to open the castle door, Ortrud prays to her pagan gods, Wodan and Freija, for malice, guile, and cunning, in order to deceive Elsa and restore pagan rule to the region. When Elsa appears, Ortrud warns her that since she knows nothing about her rescuer, he could leave her any time, as suddenly as he came.
The populace assembles and the Herald announces that the king has offered to make the unnamed knight the Duke of Brabant; however, the Knight has declined the title, and prefers to be known only as "Leader of Brabant", or, in post-WWII performances, "Guardian of Brabant". The Herald further announces that the Knight will lead the people to glorious new conquests. Four knights quietly express misgivings to each other; Telramund secretly assures them that he will stop the Knight, by accusing him of witchcraft.
As the king, the Knight, Elsa and her attendants are about to enter the church, Ortrud, clad in magnificent attire, appears and accuses the Guardian of Brabant of being a magician. Telramund also appears. He claims that his defeat in combat was invalid because the Knight did not give his name; trial by combat is traditionally open only to established citizens. The Knight refuses to reveal his identity and claims that only one has the right to know his origin - Elsa and Elsa alone. Elsa, though visibly shaken and uncertain, assures him of her confidence and they enter the church together.