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Romeo and Juliet in Classical Music

Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast

CHAPTER

The Death of Mercutio and Tibalt

Prokofiev's music doesn't specifically portray the death of Mercutio and then the death of Tibalt. The frantic music finally gives way to four sudden slashing chords, just like in Tchaikovsky. It seems that the two composers couldn't resist the connections between short, powerful chords and the sound of swords clashing against each other. Prokofiev then brings us to an astonishing passage, a 15 consecutive hammer blows,. played only by the bass clarinet, saxophone, contrabassoon, horns, timpani, cellos and basses.

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