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Belshazzar's Feast (in Swedish: Belsazars gästabud), JS 48 (full score) and Op. 51 (concert suite), is theatre music for orchestra written in 1906 by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius to accompany the Finnish playwright Hjalmar Procopé (poet) Biblically-inspired play (skådespel) of the same name.







Structure and roles
Pelléas and Mélisande is a stage drama in five acts; in all, Sibelius wrote ten numbers: seven preludes, two postludes that double as melodrama, and a song. The play includes eight roles, the three principal characters—Mélisande, Pelléas, and Golaud—and five minor. These are as follows:

here Belshazzar, king of Babylonia Mr. Fischer; Queen Mrs. Nygrån; Tiglagth, the king's army officer Mr. Ljungqvist; Aspenas, the king's court master Mr. Lundmark; Sethar, the king's castle bailiff Mr. Larsson; Elieser, the king's counselor, Jew Mr. Svedberg: Hagab and Baruch, the king's officials, Jews Mr. Ahlbom and Lindh; Daniel, by the Chaldeans called Beltesazar Mr. Malmström; Ben Oni, Jewish prophet Mr. Taltroth; Leschanah, Jewess Ms. Tidholm; Khadra, dancer Ms. Kolthoff; Jael, mother of Ben Oni; Mandane and Naame, Leschana's slave women Ms. Lindfors and Reyman; Two Chaldean wise men, Mr. Nycander and Stenström; The superintendent at Istars besieged Mr. Nykopp; a young Syrian slave Mr. Ohlsson; Two older Babylonian men Mr. Precht and Stenström, Two younger Babylonian men Mr. Ranft and Karlsson; Two prostitutes, Mrs. Stavenow and Miss Blomqvist.

The play is in 4 acts, of which the 4th is divided into 2 tableaus. The scene represents: act. 1. A public place in Babylon; act. 2. Hanging Garden in the King's Palace; act. 3. The guest booth hall; act. 4, table 1. Hanging Garden in the Palace; act. 4. table. 2. The king's bedchamber.

[https://digi.kansalliskirjasto.fi/sanomalehti/binding/767154?term=Belsazars&page=5&ocr=true Hj. L review] T h f review

Mr. Knudsen's new decorations surpass, if possible, everything he had previously achieved in that way, which admittedly does not mean so little, and can rightly be described as excellent. The greatest credit for the fact that the whole thing appears in such an exemplary manner still belongs to Mr. Wetzer, who left no effort was spared to give Hjalmar Procopé's work as worthy a setting as possible. The author himself was called in after the last act to loud applause and received two magnificent laurel wreaths with attached yellow-red silk ribbons. A laurel wreath was also presented to Jean Sibelius, who furnished the piece with its magnificently illustrated musical number.

Flodin review Bis review

Act I Act II Act III Act IV
 * No. 1 – Alla marcia (Moderato)
 * No. 2a – Prelude: Notturno (Nocturne). Andantino
 * No. 2b – "Den judiska flickans sång" ("The Jewish Girl's Song")
 * No. 3 – Allegretto
 * No. 4 – Lifvets dans (Dance of Life). Commodo
 * No. 5 – Dödens dans (Dance of Death). Commodo
 * No. 6 – Lifvets dans (Dance of Life) [extract (aber langsam)]
 * No. 7 – Tempo sostenuto
 * No. 8 – Allegro
 * No. 9 – Lifvets dans (Dance of Life) [reprised but shortened]
 * No. 10 – Dödens dans (Dance of Death) [reprised]

Instrumentation
The incidental music to Belshazzar's Feast is scored for the following instruments, organized by family (woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings):


 * 1 flute (doubling piccolo in Nos. 3, 5, 8, 10) and 2 clarinets
 * 2 horns
 * Timpani, bass drum, cymbals, tambourine, and triangle
 * Violins (I and II), violas, cellos, and double basses

In addition to the instrumental forces above, No. 2b "Den judiska flickans sång" ("The Jewish Girl's Song") is a song with female vocalist.

Recordings
Recordings of the entire suite:

Recordings of the complete incidental music:

Recordings of the suite transcribed for piano: