A comprehensive guide to Saint-Saens' SAMSON AND DELILAH, featuring insightful and in depth Commentary and Analysis, a complete, newly translated Libretto with French/English side-by side, and over 25 music highlight examples.

A silly story that presents an assortment of animals and an orchestra.

Samson is a peculiar character. He is the most powerful of the Israelite judges and three whole chapters in the book of Judges are allocated to him. Yet he demonstrates many weaknesses, not least for the charms of women. In the international conference “Samson: Hero or Fool?” organised at the University of Nijmegen in April, 2008, the texts of Judges 16-18 were studied from different perspectives, investigating how the complex character of this (anti)hero lived on in various ways in the later traditions about him. The contributions discuss also the reception history of the Samson traditions in later Jewish, Christian and Islamic literature, as well as his representation in figurative and performing arts

(Faber Piano Adventures ). An excellent collection of symphonic and operatic works by the great composers. The pieces were chosen for their appealing melodies and rhythmic vitality. Includes: Theme from Don Giovanni (La ci darem la mano) by Mozart * Egyptian Ballet Dance (from the opera Sanson & Delilah ) by Saint Saens * Liebestraum by Liszt * The Merry Widow Waltz (from the opera The Merry Widow ) by Lehar * Minuet (Op. 14, No. 1) by Paderewski * Canon by Pachelbel * Spring (from The Four Seasons ) by Vivaldi * Suitor's Song (from the operetta The Gypsy Baron ) by J. Strauss, Jr. * Theme from Symphony No. 1 (Third Movement, "Frere Jacques" theme) by Mahler * Prince of Denmark's March (Trumpet Voluntary) by Clarke.

The story of Samson and Delilah in Judges 16 has been studied and retold over the centuries by biblical interpreters, artists, musicians, filmmakers and writers. Within these scholarly and cultural retellings, Delilah is frequently fashioned as the quintessential femme fatale - the shamelessly seductive 'fatal woman' whose sexual treachery ultimately leads to Samson's downfall. Yet these ubiquitous portrayals of Delilah as femme fatale tend to eclipse the many other viable readings of her character that lie, underexplored, within the ambiguity-laden narrative of Judges 16 - interpretations that offer alternative and more sympathetic portrayals of her biblical persona. In Reimagining Delilah's Afterlives as Femme Fatale, Caroline Blyth guides readers through an in-depth exploration of Delilah's afterlives as femme fatale in both biblical interpretation and popular culture, tracing the social and historical factors that may have inspired them. She then considers alternative afterlives for Delilah's character, using as inspiration both the Judges 16 narrative and a number of cultural texts which deconstruct traditional understandings of the femme fatale, thereby inviting readers to view this iconic biblical character in new and fascinating lights.

Expertly arranged French Horn Solo by Camille Saint-Saëns from the Kalmus Edition series. This is from the Romantic era.