[101] The headings are those chosen by the composer.
[102] See page 12, foot-note.
[103] Ganelon (or Ganelonne) was the traitor in Charlemagne's camp through whose perfidy Roland met his death. After the war Ganelon was taken to Aix and was there sentenced by the Emperor to be torn in pieces by four horses, pulling apart his arms and legs; the execution took place before the entire court.
[104] This according to the German version used by MacDowell. In the French, Aldâ appears not as the wife, but as the betrothed, of Roland. This is the passage as it occurs in the (modern) French version:
"L'Empereur est revenu d'Espagne,
Il vient à Aix, la meillure ville de France.
Monte au palais, entre en la salle,
Une belle damoiselle vient à lui;
C'est Aude.
Elle dit au Roi, 'Où est Roland le capitaine,
Qui m'a juré de me prendre pour femme?'"
[105] This work was composed at Frankfort in 1884, and was published in the following year with the title: "Hamlet; Ophelia: Two Poems for Grand Orchestra"; but the composer afterwards changed his mind concerning this designation, and preferred to entitle the score: "First Symphonic Poem (a. 'Hamlet'; b. 'Ophelia')." "Lancelot and Elaine" was published in 1888 with the sub-title: "Second Symphonic Poem."
MENDELSSOHN
(Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: born in Hamburg, February 3, 1809; died in Leipsic, November 4, 1847)