Animals in Classical Music: A Brief History

A look at how animals have been used in classical music throughout the years, from Bach’s “The Well-Tempered Clavier” to Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring.”

Early examples of animals in classical music

Animals have been depicted in classical music since the early days of the genre. One of the earliest examples is “The Swan” from Camille Saint-Saëns’s “Carnival of the Animals” (1886). In this piece, the solo cello melody is meant to represent the gracefulness of a swan.

“The Carnival of the Animals” by Camille Saint-Saëns

One of the most famous examples of animals in classical music is “The Carnival of the Animals” by Camille Saint-Saëns. The piece was written in 1886 and was originally scored for two pianos, two violins, viola, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, glass harmonica, and xylophone.

The work is a satirical look at the ranking of humans in society based on their similarities to various animals. Each movement represents a different animal, ranging from an elephant to a kangaroo to humans themselves. Though “The Carnival of the Animals” is light-hearted in nature, it still contains some beautiful music, particularly in the movements featuring the glass harmonica and xylophone.

“Peter and the Wolf” by Sergei Prokofiev

One of the most famous and beloved examples of animals in classical music is Sergei Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf.” This children’s story was written in 1936 with the specific intention of introducing young audiences to the instruments of the orchestra. In the story, each character is represented by a different instrument:

-Peter – Strings (Violin)
-The Bird – Flute
-The Duck – Oboe
-The Cat – clarinet
-The Grandfather – Bassoon
-The Wolf – French Horn

Use of animals in opera

While the use of human actors in operas dates back to the days of Greek theatre, the use of animals on stage is a much more recent phenomenon. The first recorded instance of an animal being used in an opera was in the early 17th century, when a horse was brought onto the stage during a performance of Jacopo Peri’s Dafne. Since then, animals have been appearing in operas with increasing frequency.

“The Marriage of Figaro” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

One of the most famous examples of animals in opera is in The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In the second act, a pair of love-struck countesses serenade each other with a song about two birds – a nightingale and a lark – who are in love. A chorus of birds joins in, and at the end of the act,Figaro himself arrives dressed as a lark.

This light-hearted use of animals was not always the case, however. In many works from earlier periods, animals were often used as symbols of something bigger and more important. For example, in Giovanni Paisiello’s opera The Barber of Seville (1782), the character Figaro sings an aria in which he compares himself to a faithful dog. This was not just meant to be funny – it was also meant to show that Figaro was a loyal and trustworthy friend, despite his often mischievous antics.

One of the most famous examples of animals being used for comic effect is Rossini’s The Barber of Seville (1816), in which an entire scene is devoted to a donkey who refuses to move. The animal eventually gets its comeuppance when it is hit on the head with a broom and driven offstage.

More recently, composer Philip Glass wrote an opera called The Juniper Tree (1992) based on a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. In one scene, two birds are killed – one by being eaten alive by snakes, and the other by being crushed inside a Juniper tree. This shocking moment is meant to demonstrate the powerlessness of innocence in the face of evil.

“Pagliacci” by Ruggero Leoncavallo

In “Pagliacci,” a play with music by Ruggero Leoncavallo, the character Tonio (baritone) is a hunchback clown. In the play, he falls in love with Nedda (soprano), who is also being pursued by Canio (tenor).

During the play within the play, Nedda is supposed to be serenaded by Silvio (tenor). However, at one point, she throws a scarf around Tonio’s neck to silence him. She then pretended to be talking to Silvio, but was actually talking to Canio, telling him that she no longer loves him and wants to run away with Silvio.

Canio becomes enraged and stabs her. As she dies, she pulls Tonio’s hunchbacked form close to her in an attempt to escape her husband’s wrath.

Animals in contemporary classical music

Though not often thought of, animals have been involved in the development and composition of classical music throughout history. In fact, some of the most famous classical pieces were inspired by, or even written for, a specific animal. Here are some examples of animals in contemporary classical music.

“The Cat Concerto” by Hungarian composer Franz Lehár

The Cat Concerto is a composition by Hungarian composer Franz Lehár. The piece was originally written for orchestra and solo piano, but has been arranged for other instruments as well.

The work is based on the cartoon short of the same name, which was released in 1946. The short tells the story of a cat who tries to outwit a group of mice who are trying to steal his food.

The Cat Concerto was composed in 1947 and premiered that same year. It has become one of Lehár’s best-known works, and has been recorded by many famous musicians, including Russian pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff and American violinist Isaac Stern.

“The Swan” by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns

The Swan is a composition by French composer Camille Saint-Saëns. The piece, written in 1886, is part of “Carnival of the Animals”, a suite of fourteen pieces scored for two pianos, percussion, and strings.

“The Swan” is the thirteenth movement of the suite, scored for solo cello accompanied by two pianos and strings. It is a phenomenally beautiful piece, and one of the most popular cello solos in the repertoire.

The piece is evocative and elegiac, with a flowing, lyrical melody. It has been used in many different settings over the years, including as background music for ballet and film.