Burleske

Strauss composed the Burleske in D minor for piano and orchestra in 1885–86, during his year as assistant conductor at Meiningen, and offered it to Hans von Bülow, who declared the solo part unplayable and refused it. Strauss set the score aside and for years spoke of it dismissively. It was Eugen d'Albert who took it up: he played the first performance at Eisenach in 1890, with the composer conducting, and received the dedication. Four timpani announce the main idea at the outset — an unusual gesture, and one that returns quietly to close the piece.