Symphony No. 4 (Prokofiev)
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[edit] Background
Sergei Prokofiev's Symphony No. 4 in C major exists in two quite distinct versions.
The original version was composed in 1929-30. Written on a commission from the Boston Symphony Orchestra for their 50th anniversary, it was premiered by them in Boston conducted by Serge Koussevitzky on November 14, 1930. This original version was given the opus number 47.
Prokofiev extensively revised the symphony in 1947 immediately after completing his Symphony No. 6. Some ideas in the original version were abandoned, while the remaining ones were developed in a mature symphonic style. The orchestration was also much expanded. Prokofiev considered this to be a new fully-developed symphony rather than a mere revision. This revised version has the opus number 112.
Just as the Symphony No. 3 had been based on music from Prokofiev's opera The Fiery Angel, the fourth re-uses music from his ballet The Prodigal Son.
[edit] Instrumentation
[edit] Original version (Op. 47)
- Piccolo
- 2 Flutes
- 2 Oboes
- Cor Anglais
- 2 Clarinets
- Bass Clarinet
- 2 Bassoons
- Contrabassoon
- 3 Trumpets
- 4 French Horns
- 3 Trombones
- Tuba
- Timpani
- Percussion (Bass Drum, Triangle, Tambourine, Cymbals, Snare Drum, Wood blocks)
- Strings (1st and 2nd Violins, Violas, Cellos and Double Basses)
[edit] Revised version (Op. 112)
- Piccolo
- 2 Flutes
- 2 Oboes
- Cor Anglais
- E-flat Clarinet
- 2 Clarinets
- Bass Clarinet
- 2 Bassoons
- Contrabassoon
- 3 Trumpets
- 4 French Horns
- 3 Trombones
- Tuba
- Timpani
- Percussion (Bass Drum, Triangle, Tambourine, Cymbals, Snare Drum, Wood blocks)
- Harp
- Piano
- Strings (1st and 2nd Violins, Violas, Cellos and Double Basses)
[edit] Movements
As is usual for symphonies, the piece is in four movements:
[edit] Performance time
- Original version (Op. 47): 25 minutes
- Revised version (Op. 112): 40 minutes
[edit] Premiere
- Original version (Op. 47):
- Revised version (Op. 112):
[edit] Recordings
[edit] Original version (Op. 47)
| Orchestra | Conductor | Record Company | Year of Recording | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London Symphony Orchestra | Valery Gergiev | Philips | 2004 | CD |
| Scottish National Orchestra | Neeme Järvi | Chandos Records | 1985 | CD |
| Orchestre National de l'ORTF | Jean Martinon | VoxBox | ? | CD |
| Orchestre National de France | Mstislav Rostropovich | Erato | ? | CD |
[edit] Revised version (Op. 112)
| Orchestra | Conductor | Record Company | Year of Recording | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malmo Symphony Orchestra | James dePreist | BIS | ? | CD |
| London Symphony Orchestra | Valery Gergiev | Philips | 2004 | CD |
| Scottish National Orchestra | Neeme Järvi | Chandos Records | 1985 | CD |
| Czech Philharmonic Orchestra | Zdenek Kosler | Supraphon | ? | CD/LP |
| National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine | Theodore Kuchar | Naxos | 1995 | CD |
| Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | Seiji Ozawa | Deutsche Grammophon | 1992 | CD |
| Orchestre National de France | Mstislav Rostropovich | Erato | ? | CD |
| USSR Radio/TV Large Symphony Orchestra | Gennadi Rozhdestvensky | ? | CD/LP | |
| London Symphony Orchestra | Walter Weller | Decca | ? | CD |
[edit] External links
- Symphony No. 4 (original version) at prokofiev.org
- Symphony No. 4 (revised version) at prokofiev.org
| Symphonies by Sergei Prokofiev |
|---|
 Symphony No. 1 in D major Classical Symphony No. 2 in D minor Iron and Steel Symphony No. 4 in C major Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major |
