Le Rouet d'Omphale (The Spinning Wheel of Omphale orOmphale's Spinning Wheel),Op. 31, is asymphonic poem for orchestra, composed byCamille Saint-Saëns in 1871. It is one of the most famous of the four symphonic poems in a mythological series by Saint-Saëns. The other three in the series areDanse macabre,Phaéton, andLa jeunesse d'Hercule. The work was printed byÉditions Durand with the dedication 'à MademoiselleAugusta Holmès'.
Apollo condemnsHercules to serveOmphale while disguised as a woman: While wearing woman's dress, Hercules slaves for three years spinning wool for her on aspinning wheel.[1]
The piece has contrasting sections, and features an imitation of a spinning wheel, played by the strings and woodwind, which recurs throughout the piece.[2][3]
The middle section ofLe Rouet d'Omphale was used as the theme music to the 1930s USradio drama,The Shadow.[4]
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