Symphony No. 2 (Prokofiev)
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Sergei Prokofiev wrote his Symphony No. 2 in D minor (Op. 40) in 1924-5.
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[edit] Background
Prokofiev based the symphony's overall structure of a quick, minor-key first movement followed by a set of variations. The first movement, in traditional sonata form, in particular is rhythmically unrelenting, harmonically dissonant, and texturally thick. Prokofiev characterized this symphony as a work of "iron and steel". The second movement, twice as long as the first, is a set of variations based on a diatonic theme played by a plaintive, bittersweet oboe, providing an abrupt contrast to the defiant coda of the 1st movement. The subsequent variations contrast moments of beautiful meditation with cheeky playfulness, while the last variation integrates the theme with the violence of the first movement, reaching an inevitable climax. The symphony ends with a touching reinstatement of the plaintive oboe theme, eventually dispelled by an eerie chord on the strings. [1]
After the premiere, Prokofiev commented that neither he nor the audience understood the piece. Prokofiev later said that this symphony led him to have doubts about his ability as a composer for the first time in his life.[2] Prokofiev planned to reconstruct the piece in three movements late in his life, going so far as to assign the project the opus number 136, but the composer died before he could complete the revisions. The symphony has ever since remained an obscure work, possibly the least-played of Prokofiev's seven symphonies.
[edit] Movements
The symphony is in 2 movements, lasting 35-40 minutes:
- Allegro ben articolato (12 minutes)
- Theme and Variations (25 minutes)
- Theme: Andante
- Variation 1: L'istesso tempo
- Variation 2: Allegro non troppo
- Variation 3: Allegro
- Variation 4: Larghetto
- Variation 5: Allegro con brio
- Variation 6: Allegro moderato
- Theme
[edit] Instrumentation
The work scores for the followings:
Woodwinds
Brass
- 4 French Horns
- 3 Trumpets
- 3 Trombones
- Tuba
Percussion
Keyboard
Strings
- Violins (1st and 2nd)
- Violas
- Cellos
- Double Basses
[edit] Premiere
The piece was premiered in Paris on June 6, 1925, conducted by Serge Koussevitzky, and was not well received.
[edit] Recordings
| Orchestra | Conductor | Record Company | Year of Recording | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish National Orchestra | Neeme Järvi | Chandos Records | 1986 | CD |
| London Symphony Orchestra | Valery Gergiev | Philips | 2004 | CD |
| London Symphony Orchestra | Walter Weller | Decca | ? | CD |
| Orchestre National de France | Mstislav Rostropovich | Erato | 1988 | CD |
| Russian State Symphony Orchestra | Valeri Polyansky | Chandos Records | ? | CD |
| National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine | Theodore Kuchar | Naxos Records | CD | |
| National Orchestra of the O.R.T.F. | Jean Martinon | Vox Records | CD | |
| Czech Philharmonic Orchestra | Zdenek Kosler | Supraphon | CD | |
| Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra | Seiji Ozawa | Deutsche Grammophon | 1990 | CD |
| USSR Ministry of Culture State Symphony Orchestra | Gennadi Rozhdestvensky | CD/LP |
[edit] Notes
- ^ Redepenning, Dorothea; L. Macy (editor) (2007). Prokofiev, Sergey (Sergeyevich) (English). Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians / Grove Music Online. Retrieved on 2007-06-21.
- ^ Prokofiev, Sergei. quoted in: Prokofiev Biography: America and Europe (English). www.prokofiev.org. Retrieved on 2007-06-21. “Neither I nor the audience understood anything in it. It was too thickly woven. There were too many layers of counterpoint which degenerated into mere figuration... This was perhaps the first time it appeared to me that I might be destined to be a second-rate composer.”
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