The Year 1941 (Prokofiev)

Sergei Prokofiev wrote the symphonic suite The Year 1941 (Op. 90) in 1941.

Contents

Background

Prokofiev, along with other composers, was evacuated to Caucasus when Germany started attacking the Soviet Union in 1941. It was under such circumstances that Prokofiev began work on this symphonic suite (He was working on his epic opera War and Peace at the same time).

Movements

The whole suite lasts for around 15 minutes.

  1. In the Struggle
  2. In the Night
  3. For the Brotherhood of Man

Instrumentation

Analysis

Shostakovich had criticized the work's materials being under-developed. Even Myaskosvky, Prokofiev's closest friend, did not like the work. However, the work does contain a wealth of melodic material, albeit without symphonic treatment.

Premiere

Recordings