Slava! A Political Overture

Slava! A Political Overture for Orchestra is a short orchestral composition by Leonard Bernstein. It was written for the inaugural concerts of Mstislav Rostropovich's first season with the National Symphony Orchestra in 1977. It premiered on October 11, 1977 with Rostropovich conducting.

Creation

The overture's two main themes are based on "The Grand Old Party" and "Rehearse!" from the failed musical 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, which ran for only seven performances on Broadway. Mid-way into the work, a pre-recorded tape of political speeches plays over an orchestral vamp. The pre-recorded tape features the voices of Bernstein, Michael Wager, Adolph Green, and Patrick O'Neal giving the political speeches.[1] Cheering crowd noises are also used. The piece has been transcribed for symphonic band by Clare Grundman. The band version eliminates the pre-recorded tape.

Structure

The first part of the overture is the fanfare, based on "Grand Old Party", which is mostly in the time signature of 7/4. The second theme, based on "Rehearse!", is in a brighter 7/8 time signature. The section with pre-recorded tape follows. The two themes are then presented in reverse order. Near the conclusion a brief quotation of the "Slava Chorus" from the "Coronation Scene" of Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov is played against the "Rehearse!" vamp.

Rostropovich's dog "Pooks" is honored in the piece.[2] The name is shouted before the 7/8 section, at the spot where the woodblock solo is heard. This is not written in the score, but is heard on the Bernstein recording.

Instrumentation

The original score calls for piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, E-flat clarinet, soprano saxophone, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, snare drum, tenor drum, bass drum, chimes, crash cymbals, suspended cymbals, glockenspiel, ratchet, slide whistle, steel pipe, tambourine, triangle, vibraphone, xylophone, marimba, whip, wood block, electric guitar, piano, pre-recorded tape, and strings.

Recordings

Bernstein recorded the music for Deutsche Grammophon with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. The performance lasts four minutes and seven seconds.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Gottlieb, Jack (2010). Working With Bernstein. Amadeus Press. pp. 292–3. ISBN 978-1-57467-186-5.
  2. ↑ Liner notes for Bernstein Conducts Bernstein Deutsche
  3. ↑ Liner notes for Deutsche Grammophon 289 471 518-2