Symphony No. 1 (Glazunov)
His Symphony No. 1 in E major, Op 5 completed the Russian composer Alexander Glazunov ( 1865-1936 ) at the age of 16 years. In 1882 it was premiered with great success in St. Petersburg under the direction of Balakirev.
Formation
The young Alexander Glazunov, on the recommendation of Mili Balakirev from the beginning of 1880 studied composition with Nikolai Rimsky -Korsakov. Because of Glazunov's eminent progress finished Rimsky- Korsakov in the spring of 1881 the regular classes, but offered him continued friendly advice on. The composition of his Symphony No. 1 in E major, Op 5 began Glazunov during lessons with Rimsky -Korsakov in 1880 as a 15 - year-old. A summer stay in the spa town of Druskininkai, the people lived in many Slavic nationalities, encouraged him to " Slavic Symphony" on. In the fall of 1881 the work was completed, with Balakirev and Rimsky -Korsakov rendered assistance particularly in the instrumentation.
Premiere and reception
On 17 Märzjul. / March 29 1882greg. Balakirev conducted the first performance of Rimsky -Korsakov devoted work in the Great Hall of the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert of the Free Music School, whose director was Balakirev. The success was great and the reactions of the press and fellow composer to the work of the precocious composer who still visited the Petersburg Grammar School, unanimously positive. The influential art critic Stasov wrote " Glazunov was born as a musical primordial power and function immediately as a young Samson in the arena ." César Cui described the symphony as " wonderful, remarkable talent full work of ernstestem musical content ." It was soon followed by further performances. Rimsky-Korsakov, Glazunov Symphony No. 1 conducted in the summer of 1882 at the All-Russian Art and Industrial Exhibition in Moscow. In 1884 it came into the presence of Franz Liszt to a performance in Weimar. In 1885 Hans von Bülow conducted again in St. Petersburg.
In the samples to Glazunov's Symphony No. 1 of the Industrial and music lovers Belyayev was also present and pleased with the work so that in future he intensively promoted Glazunov and many of his works - including the Symphony No. 1 - in which was founded a few years later the music publisher program MP Belaieff found recording. Glazunov himself put upon review of the score on the occasion of an anniversary edition in 1932, ie 50 years after the premiere, fixed: I think to change any sound.
Factory characterization
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, strings ( 1st violin, 2nd violin, viola, cello and double bass).
Full sequence:
- I. Allegro
- Scherzo: Allegro
- III. adagio
- IV Finale: Allegro
The game lasts about 35 minutes.
The symphony has - in particularly in the instrumentation still noticeable influence Rimsky -Korsakov - in their color harmonies, type the themes of education and formal clarity already essential qualities of the later symphonies of Glazunov on. The use of each of a Polish subject (" Thème polonais " ) on the 2nd and 4th movement of Symphony wore the nickname sometimes used "Slavic Symphony" one.