Music and Time Annotation << Back «Metamorphosen» by R. Strauss: Peculiarities of Thematic Invention A. Sadovnik At the core of the work is a composition by R. Strauss «Metamorphosen», – an etude for twenty-three solo string instruments. String Adagio is considered the most confessional work by R. Strauss. It reflects the deep emotional experiences of the author, which are related to the loss of German cultural heritage as the result of war and the presentiment of approaching death. The main aspect of the study is the analysis of the structure of the thematic invention, together with its sources and the shaping of its functions. The paper also considers the relationship between the main thematic formations with the works of Beethoven, especially with the theme of the Funeral March of the Third Symphony, which is one of the most explicit quotations functioning in the text of this research. The paper also describes the principles of morphogenesis, among which the dominant ones are sonata-type. Strauss’s composition has mostly polyphonic form, where nevertheless harmony is playing the major role. As a result of the studies, a distinct way of the development of the thematic invention was found, which itself was determined by the philosophical and aesthetical vision of the author. This in fact was linked to the idea of «metamorphosis» – «transformation into the other forms», and is based on the following levels of structuring of the musical composition: intonation and thematic, harmonic, morphogenesis, instrumentation, pattern. Keywords: R. Strauss, «Metamorphosen», etude for twenty three solo string instruments, Goethe, Beethoven, Funeral march. Contacts: Email: sunakon@mail.ru Pp. 37-46.