Le Rouet d'Omphale
Le Rouet d'Omphale (The Spinning Wheel of Omphale or Omphale's Spinning Wheel), Op. 31, is a symphonic poem for orchestra, composed by Camille Saint-Saëns in 1871. It is one of the most famous of the four symphonic poems in a mythological series by Saint-Saëns. The other three in the series are Danse macabre, Phaéton, and La jeunesse d'Hercule. The work was printed by Éditions Durand with the dedication 'à Mademoiselle Augusta Holmès'.
Premise
[edit]Apollo condemns Hercules to serve Omphale while disguised as a woman: While wearing woman's dress, Hercules slaves for three years spinning wool for her on a spinning wheel.[1]
Analysis
[edit]The piece has contrasting sections, and features an imitation of a spinning wheel, played by the strings and woodwind, which recurs throughout the piece.[2][3]
Usage
[edit]The middle section of Le Rouet d'Omphale was used as the theme music to the 1930s US radio drama, The Shadow.[4]
References
[edit]- ↑ Kennedy, Michael; Bourne, Joyce (1996). The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
- ↑ "Camille Saint-Saëns 'Le Rouet d'Omphale': Spin the Wheel!". Classicalexburns. September 1, 2022. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ↑ "Rouet d'Omphale. Op. 31 - Saint-Saëns". www.musicwithease.com. Retrieved December 18, 2025.
- ↑ Terrace, Vincent (2003). Radio Program Openings and Closings, 1931-1972. McFarland. p. 210. ISBN 078644925X. Retrieved January 26, 2016.
External links
[edit]
- Le Rouet d'Omphale: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
- Saint-Saëns - Le rouet d'Omphale, opus 31 on YouTube
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