Aram Khachaturian - Symphony No.2 (1943, Rev. 1944) (Score, Analysis)

Երկրորդ սիմֆոնիա («Զանգով սիմֆոնիա»)/Симфония № 2 «Симфония с колоколом»/Symphony No. 2 (The Bell Symphony)
Aram Ilyich Khachaturian (Արամ Եղիայի Խաչատրյան (Aram Yeghiayi Khach’atryan) /Арам Ильич Хачатурян (Aram Il’ich Khachaturyan) (1903-78) was an Armenian/Soviet composer who blended elements of his native Armenian music with modern harmonies. He wrote music of various genres, and he is best known for his concertos and ballet music.
The second symphony was completed in 1943 (premiere was by the USSR State Symphony Orchestra under Boris Khaikin) and revised in 1944.
According to the composer, the main inspiration for the symphony was WWII, and he said he wanted to express “the feelings of wrath and desire for revenge for all the evil which nazism had brought”, as well as “deep sorrow and a firm faith in victory”.
The revision of 1944 was rather huge, but not very extreme. The order of 2nd and 3rd movement was changed, deleted part of the recapitulation of the Scherzo movement, reinforced the brass choir of the last movement, and made some other changes in orchestration. The revised version saw its premiere by the USSR State Symphony Orchestra under Alexander Gauk on 6 March 1944.
The subtitle “The Bells” was given by Georgi Khubov. The piece is scored for piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, English Horn, two clarinets, bass clarinet, two bassoons, four French Horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, military drum, cymbals, tam-tam, bass drum, bells, xylophone, harp, piano, and strings.
(0:00) Mov.1 Andante maestoso - The first movement starts with the “bell” motif that is very turbulent.
(0:23) An Armenian-colored theme
(1:18) T1 is very slow and introspective, in sharp contrast with the introduction.
(2:20) Transition
(2:36) “Alarm” motif
(3:14) T2, Quite light
(3:50) Development
(4:31) Alarm motif makes appearance, in a huge climax (the brass rhythm is suggestive of T1)
(4:55) T1 in brass, amid chaos
(6:05) T2 - in a mournful episode
(7:42) Recapitulation, T1
(8:53) Transition
(9:44) T2
(10:02) Transition, into a passage suggestive of the development, with T1 in low brass.
(11:02) A gradual fade-out based on T1 figure, with bell-motif.
(12:51) Mov.2 Allegro risoluto - The second movement is a scherzo. Occasionally, the alarm motif makes appearance
(14:16) Interlude of a calmer character
(14:45) Scherzo
(15:39) The middle section is like a development section instead of a trio. The alarm motif appears sporadically on top of the 6/8 rhythm.
(15:52) This motif could be connected to the T2 of first movement, but this figuration is present in almost all of Khachaturian’s pieces.
(16:51) Climax
(17:38) “Postlude” that connects to the scherzo
(19:22) Outer section
(20:29) Final section, which ends the movement quite brightly.
(21:41) Mov.3 Andante sostenuto - The third movement is the most tragic movement out of the 4. The march-like rhythm is also present underneath
(25:45) Climax
(26:25) Second theme - Dies irae
(27:59) Climax
(28:20) Two themes intermingle
(30:05) A new section (more like outer section), where the mood becomes intense
(30:59) Till this oppressive climax
(32:00) Second theme, with which the movement fades away.
(33:09) Mov.4 Andante mosso - However, the mournings are not the end. With the sudden brass chorus (“Glory” motif), the bleak mood of the previous movement is dissipated.
(33:53) Strings - setting for the statement of glory motif.
(34:44) T2 of first movement makes appearance
(35:08) Glory motif
(35:54) Transition
(36:57) Softer section, reminiscent of the 3rd movement (notice the sporadic brass directly stating the 3rd movement theme)
(38:34) String background and transition
(39:10) Climax, glory motif
(39:42) A march-like, softer section. Suggestive of first movement in my opinion.
(41:09) Bell motif
(41:27) Coda - a pale version of the glory motif, getting more and more intense while combining with the bell motif.
Source: English Wikipedia, original research, Собрание сочинений в двадцати четырех томах, Москва : Издательство "Музыка" (1982-1991) Vol.2
Recording by Loris Tjeknavorian, Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra
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[@oritdrimer4354]

The begining sounds like the coda of Kabalevsky's 4th Symphony (the 1st movement), which is one of my favourite symphonies of all time and I would really love to see Kabalevsky pieces on this channel

[@IagoKeburia]

Sorry, Kabalevsky symphony No4 1955-1956, Khachaturian symphony No2 1944.

[@ZewenShifu]

based