Symphony No.20 in E major - Nikolai Myaskovsky
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- čas přidán 4. 07. 2024
- State Academic Symphonic Orchestra of Russia conducted by Evgeny Svetlanov.
I - Allegro con spirito - Poco pesante - Più tranquillo - Meno mosso - Largamente, patetico - Quasi tempo I - Tempo giusto - Meno mosso - Largamente - Più maestoso - Tempo I - Poco pesante - Più tranquillo - Meno mosso - Largamente, patetico - Quasi tempo I - Tempo giusto - Più sostenuto - Largamente - Tempo I - Più largamente: 0:00
II - Adagio - Andantino - Poco più tranquillo - Adagio, ma più caloroso - Andantino - Adagio: 8:11
III - Allegro inquieto - Poco meno mosso - Più sostenuto - Poco meno mosso - Tempo I - Poco più tranquillo - Più mosso - Tempo I - Pochissimo meno mosso - Più tranquillo - Tempo I - Poco meno mosso - Più tranquillo - Maestoso (tempo del adagio): 16:53
Myaskovsky's Symphony No.20 was composed in 1940, along with the following one. As No.21 was a commission from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, he hurried and finished it before to full fill the request. No.20 was finished shortly after, and Myaskovsky decided to present both in the Soviet Music Festival of that year. It was premiered on November 28, performed by the Bolshoi All-Union Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Nikolai Golovanov. It is dedicated to his colleague Yuri Shaporin.
The importance of the Festival where the work was premiered is shown by the premiere of Wagner's opera "Die Walküre" at the Bolshoi Theatre directed by Sergei Eisenstein, among the concerts to present the two symphonies of Myaskovsky. As a curious fact, we observe the presence of important authorities of both the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. At this time, the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact of non-aggression had been signed between both nations.
The first movement is structured in sonata form. It opens with an agitated and nervous main theme, it is followed by a lyrical second theme presented by the English horn. A turbulent development section ensues based on the main theme, the lyricism of the second reappears, leading us to a grand and expressive climax. The recapitulation begins shortly after with the themes in their original forms. A powerful coda ends the movement.
The second movement is written in form of an arch. A deeply lyrical main theme is presented by the low strings, one of the most beautiful Myaskovsky ever wrote. It unfolds in a gentle yet dignified manner, featuring solos of the woodwinds. New motives are presented, but not fleshed out. These are contrapuntally combined with the main theme in a grandiose and solemn climax. As the music calms down, The horn recapitulates the main theme, before a contemplative coda ends the movement.
The third movement is structured in sonata form. It begins with a rhythmic main theme of folkloric nature, followed by an expansive lyrical second theme. The development is darker and more turbulent, with the second theme offering an expressive and chromatic contrast. After a climax, the recapitulation section begins. Suddenly, the lyrical main theme of the second movement appears in the biggest climax of the whole work. This climax also ends the work in a brilliant way.
Picture: "Umbrella" by the Russian painter Pavel Ryzhenko.
Musical analysis mostly written by myself. Sources: bit.ly/3w1hD8B and bit.ly/3vXXRdS
To check the score: bit.ly/3eyn1di - Hudba
Six symphonies later (my last comment was on No 14), still under Soviet "direction" Myaskovsky has managed (or given more freedom to) interject more of his original style. Certainly growing as an artist - as all artists do - it is hard so many decades later to guess where his works would have gone had the Revolution and subsequent Soviet Union not occurred to alter his artistic expression. I do notice a parallel between Myaskovsky and Aaron Copland during the same period. the wikipedia article on Aaron Copland is enlightening in describing the reasons for Copland to simplify his music as well as to write for younger and wider audiences. Many of his pieces in that period were attempting to illustrate idealized American life in that period. Anyway, the journey continues!
Brilliant symphony - in particular the 2nd and 3rd movements work so well !
What an adagio!
I am less familiar with# 20 than I am with any other but I liken it to 18,, but with slightly more complexity and depth. But here again, Myaskovsky at his ceerful best.
This is kinda nice.
Beau mouvement lent mais quel est le tableau en illustration ?
The title of the painting is "An umbrella" by the Russian painter Pavel Ryzhenko
Merci une scène saisissante@@SergioCánovasCM
The painting shows "...a psychologically fractured daughter of an Imperial Guards colonel and wife who was just executed by Red Sailors from the battleship Gangut against the walls of the Peter and Paul Fortress in Petrograd 1919." (from laststandonzombieisland.com/2014/12/21/combat-gallery-sunday-the-martial-art-of-paul-rizhenko/umbrella-ryzhenko-pavel-viktorovich/). Note that in spite of the national romantic style, the artist was born in 1970 and died in 2014.