Symphony No. 1 (Shostakovich)
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The Symphony No. 1 in F Minor (Opus 10) by Dmitri Shostakovich was written between 1924 and 1925, and first performed in Leningrad by the Leningrad Philharmonic under Nikolai Malko on 12 May 1926. He wrote the work as his graduation piece at the Leningrad Conservatory, completing it at the age of 19.
The work has four movements (the last two being played without interruption):
- Allegretto - Allegro non troppo
- Allegro - Meno mosso - Allegro - Meno mosso
- Lento - Largo - Lento (attacca:)
- Allegro molto - Lento - Allegro molto - Meno mosso - Allegro molto - Molto meno mosso - Adagio
It is a lively and witty piece, adopting a dramatic and tragic tone about halfway through, approximately half an hour in length, and reminiscent of the works of Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Prokofiev. Some of the motifs in the work are derived from the composer's childhood compositions. The transparent and chamber-like orchestration of the First Symphony is in quite a contrast to the complex and sophisticated Mahlerian orchestrations found in some of his later symphonies.
[edit] Orchestration
The work is written for:
- Brass
- 2 Trumpets
- Alto trumpet
- 4 French horns
- 3 Trombones
- Tuba
- Strings
- 1st Violins
- 2nd Violins
- Violas
- Violoncelli
- Double basses
[edit] Analysis
The work begins with an introductory Allegretto section, which is developed from a duet between solo trumpet and bassoon. This leads into the first subject proper, a lively march-like Allegro remeniscent of the vaudeville and theatre music Shostakovich would have encountered during his time as a cinema pianist. The second subject is ostensibly a waltz, but is in fact written in double-time, the flute melody finding its way round several sections of the orchestra. The development section features a return to mock-comic grotesqueries, although it must be noted that the sonata-form structure of this movement is entirely conventional.
In the second movement we are presented with a 'false start' in the cellos before a frantic scherzo begins with the clarinet. The piano features for the first time with rapid scalic runs before a more sombre mood develops in the Meno mosso section. Once again Shostakovich writes a triple-time passage in two, with melodies being passed through the flutes, clarinets, strings, oboes, piccolos, and the clarinets again, while the strings and triangle play in the background. The bassoon brings us back to the Allegro of the opening, followed by a coda which is announced by widely-spaced chords from the piano and violin harmonics.
The third movement begins with a dark oboe solo, and proceeds to develop into a crescendo, featuring a quotation from Wagner's Seigfried. There is also a pianissimo passage for the strings which anticipates the passacaglia from the Eighth Symphony.
There is a drum roll attacca from the third movement into the fourth. After another sombre pssage, the music suddenly enters the Allegro molto section with a very fast melody on the clarinet and strings. This reaches a furious climax, after which calm descends and we hear another Wagner quotation. The following Allegro section culminates in a fortissimo timpani solo, a rhythmic motif which featured in the third movement. A passage for solo cello and muted strings cleverly uses this motif along with several other elements, leading into a coda section which ends the work with rousing fanfare-like figures from the brass.
The work was a tremendous success from its premiere, and is still considered today as one of Shostakovich's finest works.
| Symphonies by Dmitri Shostakovich |
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| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
