Spiel op. 39

Orchestral cast:

(1 Piccolo-Flöte, 1 Flöte, 1 Oboe, 1 Fagott, 1 Klarinette in Es, 3 Klarinetten in B, 1 Alt-Klarinette in Es ad lib., 1 Bass-Klarinette in B ad lib., 4 Hörner in F, 3 Trompeten in B, 3 Posaunen, 2 Flügelhörner in B, 1 Tenorhorn in B, 1 Bariton, 1 Tuba, Pauken, Schlagzeug: Glockenspiel, kleine Trommel, große Trommel, Triangel, Becken)

Ernst Toch was one of the most important contemporary composers of the late Twenties and Thirties. He was active in Berlin and, after 1933, in Los Angeles. As well as being a composer he was mainly a teacher. Spiel Op. 39 for Symphonie wind ensemble was composed at the instigation of Paul Hindemith and received its first performance in 1926 directed by Hermann Scherchen at the Donaueschingen Chamber Music Festival. Toch himself wrote an alternative arrangement of the work for the wind section of a symphony orchestra.

This edition has been adapted for the instruments usually found in a wind band today, with regard to the clari-nets and trumpets, without altering the musical substance of the work. There is no pari for Saxophone äs in the original. Today Spiel is still considered to be one of the best compositions of concert music.