A performer's analysis of Hans Werner Henze's

Abstract

Royal Winter Music (First and Second Sonatas on Shakespearean Characters) by Hans Werner Henze is the largest composition for solo classical guitar written to date. It is comprised of nine movements, each movement a musical portrait of a character from Shakespeare's plays. My discussion focuses on the first sonata, comparing a detailed examination of the Shakespearean characters, and any applicable dialogue, with Henze's musical portraits. The musical analysis is from a performer's viewpoint and does not offer a strict theoretical analysis. Instead, my intention is to find key components of form, harmony, and other musical elements that illuminate the inner workings of Henze's music and its relationship to the Shakespearean character.