Danse Macabre

The Danse macabre is the third symphonic poem in orchestral version composed by Saint-Saens in early 1875. Six months after finishing the orchestral score, the composer completed the two-piano transcription.

It is based upon a poem by Henri Cazalis (1840–1909), the doctor and Symbolist poet who, at the time, went by the pseudonym of Jean Lahor. With two-pianos combination, the density of both the musical discourse and the volume are at their best.

It is easier to differentiate the accents and dynamics and to distinguish the different colours. Historical introduction in French and English by Edmond Lemaitre and text of the poem and translation.