Richard Strauss wrote his tone poem Don Juan in 1888-89, based on a play by Nikolaus Lenau about the legendary Spanish womanizer Don Juan. In considering how to respond to this iconic tone poem, I decided to look at what else was happening in the world while Strauss was composing.
One significant event for me was Vincent Van Gogh’s painting Starry Night in 1889. Another was the discovery of the Horsehead Nebula by Williamina Fleming in 1888. Mrs. Fleming was one of the “Harvard Computers”, a group of women who were taught to analyze stellar spectra and catalog stars for astronomers at the Harvard College Observatory. Her extraordinary life became the subject of my tone poem.
Bright Stars, Dark Nights, Vast Universe has a few main themes throughout: questioning, searching and curiosity, perseverance and determination, and the beauty of the starry sky. The piece begins with a questioning theme in the harp, answered by solo winds. As the questioning and searching intensifies, it leads to the driving themes of perseverance and determination. This is fast and relentless and at times turbulent. Doubt creeps in for a moment with trumpet and oboe solos. Gradually, confidence and strength are regained and a calm focus is revealed with a brass chorale. The main theme of perseverance returns, eventually leading to success and discovery. Throughout the piece, we are aware of the stars: shining, calling, guiding.
This tone poem was composed between May and August of 2023. It was Commissioned by Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, Alexander Shelley, Music Director.
