Suite in F-sharp minor (Dohnányi)

The Suite in F-sharp minor, Op. 19, sometimes called "Suite romantique", was written by Ernő Dohnányi in 1909, while he was teaching at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik.^[1] It is characterised by brilliant and lush scoring, and witty and engaging melodies with a Hungarian accent.

History

Dohnányi wrote the Suite simultaneously with the pantomime The Veil of Pierrette, Op. 18. After completing the first two tableaux of Pierrette, he wrote the first two movements of the Suite, then completed Pierrette and then the Suite.

It had its premiere performance in Budapest on 21 February 1910, under the composer's baton.^[2] It was published in 1911.^[3]

The first performance in England was on 9 October 1913, at a Prom Concert in the Queen's Hall, London, under Sir Henry Wood.^[4]

The Suite takes 25 to 30 minutes to play. It is in four movements:

• Andante con variazioni
• Scherzo
• Romanza
• Rondo

Orchestration

Dohnányi scored the Suite for piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, 3 timpani, triangle, cymbals, snare drum, bass drum, castanets, 2 harps, and strings.^[3]

Recordings

The first recording of the Suite in F-sharp minor was by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Frederick Stock, in 1928.^[5]

Later recordings include:

• London Symphony Orchestra under Sir Malcolm Sargent
• Los Angeles Philharmonic under Alfred Wallenstein (who was principal cellist in the Chicago Symphony at the time of the 1928 Stock recording)^[5]
• Philharmonia Orchestra under Robert Irving
• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Sargent
• Portland Junior Symphony Orchestra under Jacob Avshalomov
• West Australian Symphony Orchestra under Jorge Mester
• Budapest Symphony Orchestra under Tamás Vásáry
• BBC Philharmonic under Matthias Bamert
• Danubia Symphony Orchestra under Domonkos Héja
• Seattle Symphony under Milton Katims
• St. Louis Symphony under Leonard Slatkin.^[5][6]

Arrangement

The violinist Jascha Heifetz arranged the Romanza for violin and piano.^[7]

References