Parsifal, WWV 111: Act I Prelude (Vorspiel) [concert version] and Act III Finale Cover Image

Parsifal, WWV 111: Act I Prelude (Vorspiel) [concert version] and Act III Finale: Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

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Parsifal, WWV 111: Act I Prelude (Vorspiel) [concert version] and Act III Finale Cover Image
Parsifal, WWV 111: Act I Prelude (Vorspiel) [concert version] and Act III Finale: Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

Parsifal, WWV 111: Act I Prelude (Vorspiel) [concert version] and Act III Finale: Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

By Richard Wagner

Item: 36-A223902
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Parsifal, WWV 111: Act I Prelude (Vorspiel) [concert version] and Act III Finale: Full Orchestra Conductor Score

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Description
The three-act opera Parsifal was conceived of by Richard Wagner (1813-1883) in 1857, but not completed until 1882. Telling the story of Parsifal, the "pure fool" destined to claim kingship in the country of the Holy Grail, the work premiered on July 26, 1882 under conductor Hermann Levi at the Festspielhaus in Bayreuth, the hall built for Wagner's works. Parsifal is unique in that Wagner only permitted it to be performed in Bayreuth, with the ban on all other performances maintained after Wagner's death by his wife Cosima, although some unauthorized performances were staged during this time. The ban was lifted on January 1 of 1914, and the demand resulted in over fifty European opera houses staging the work before August of that year. This concert version of the Act I Prelude and Act III Finale was completed by Wagner, and it each section may be performed individually or together. Instrumentation: Act I Prelude - 3.3+1(EH).3.3+1(CBsn): 4.3.3.1: Timp: Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set) / Act III Finale - 3.3+1(EH).3+1(BCl).3+1(CBsn): 4.3.3.1: Timp: Hp(2 or 1): Str. The two Harp parts for the Act III Finale include two separate parts, but also a combined part for a single player. Reprint edition.

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Additional Details
Series: Kalmus Orchestra Library
Publisher: EDWIN F KALMUS
UPC: 604634011274
SKU: 36-A223902
Instrumentation: Act I Prelude - 3.3+1(EH).3.3+1(CBsn): 4.3.3.1: Timp: Str (9.8.7.6.5 in set) / Act III Finale - 3.3+1(EH).3+1(BCl).3+1(CBsn): 4.3.3.1: Timp: Hp(2 or 1): Str

More about this title

About the Composer: Richard Wagner

Richard Wagner (1813-1883) fundamentally reshaped what orchestral music could express. His innovations in harmonic language, leitmotif technique, and instrumental color influenced composers across generations. Parsifal represents the culmination of his artistic vision, composed over a quarter century and reflecting his deepest philosophical and spiritual convictions about music drama.

Why we love this

Wagner's concert versions of these excerpts stand alone brilliantly, giving orchestras access to some of the most luminous and complex scoring in the repertoire without mounting an entire opera. The Act I Prelude's contemplative opening and the Act III Finale's transcendent conclusion showcase orchestration techniques that reward serious study from every section, making this an invaluable teaching score for advanced ensembles.

What to expect

The Act I Prelude unfolds with meditative depth, beginning in hushed reverence and gradually building layers of brass and woodwind into something approaching spiritual majesty. The Act III Finale radiates a serene, transcendent quality, moving between passages of crystalline clarity and moments of overwhelming harmonic richness.

Who it's for

Advanced orchestras, university symphony programs, and experienced concert bands seeking substantial concert repertoire beyond the standard canon. This score demands mature musicianship, secure intonation, and comfort with Wagnerian harmonic language and orchestration.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the brass and woodwind choir in the prelude's opening measures; the divided strings provide harmonic foundation, not the primary melodic voice.
  • Bring the harp writing to the foreground in the Act III Finale, particularly where it doubles ethereal string passages.
  • Allow tempo flexibility in both movements to accommodate the inherent ritardandi and shifts in harmonic density without losing structural coherence.
  • Rehearse the extended horn writing separately; Wagner frequently layers complex counterpoint in this section that dissolves into transparency only with precise intonation and balance.

How to use it

Pair the Act I Prelude with other symphonic works exploring spiritual or philosophical themes, or place the Act III Finale as a concert closer where its contemplative conclusion can resonate in silence. Both excerpts work particularly well on all-Wagner programs or as part of thematic concerts exploring 19th-century orchestral innovation.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading complex Wagnerian harmony and voice leading
  • Balancing divided woodwind and brass sections with competing melodic lines
  • Sustaining ensemble intonation under extended harmonic tension
  • Interpreting rubato and tempo flexibility within symphonic structure
  • Coordinating multiple harp parts with orchestral texture
  • Navigating extended instrumental techniques specific to late Romantic orchestration

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