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he had heard the recently deceased composer’s Pathétique Symphony in Helsinki
and been deeply moved by it. “There is
much in that man that I recognize in myself,” he admitted to his wife. And there
is much of Tchaikovsky’s spirit in both
the Andante second movement here and
the finale. It opens with a lovely rocking
melody for the violins and cellos, romantic and wistful. This is followed by an
episode in which two bassoons, abetted by
other woodwinds, engage in a dark duet;
Sibelius described them as instruments
with a particularly Finnish sound. When
the romantic melody returns, listen for the
wild swirls of flute, clarinet, and bassoon
that accompany it. This is an episodic
movement full of passionate, tempestuous
excursions, though it ultimately returns to
the repose of the romantic theme.
Bruckner was another composer
who impressed the young Sibelius, and
the third-movement Scherzo has the
pounding energy of Bruckner’s scherzo
dances, energized by the exciting conflict
of cross rhythms. This music is suddenly
stopped in its tracks by sighing horns,
introducing a haunting trio section in
a much slower tempo. Enigmatic and
wonderfully scored, this is one of the
First’s finest passages.
The finale initially returns us to the
world of the first movement. Once again
we hear the melancholy clarinet theme,
but now it is sung passionately by the
strings. As the Allegro section begins, Sibelius substitutes a choppy, fitful theme for
a conventional melody — a kind of theme
Tchaikovsky also favored. But Sibelius
more than compensates with his gloriously
romantic second theme, richly sung by
violins and rhapsodically accompanied by
the harp. After a turbulent development,
it is this magnificent melody that carries
the Symphony to its grand conclusion,
ending with a final Sibelian surprise: two
delicately strummed pizzicato chords.
Classic Connections,
Exceptional Harmonies
Enjoying the arts adds vitality to
our lives. Many life-enriching qualities,
connections to family and friends and
favorite traditions can be found at
North Oaks. Ask Cindy or Vicki about
the art of living at North Oaks by
calling 410-415-9034.
www.NorthOaksLCS.com
725 Mount Wilson Lane
Pikesville, MD 21208
It’s life as you know it, only better.
697492
Instrumentation: Two flutes, two piccolos,
two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four
horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba,
timpani, percussion, harp and strings.
Notes by Janet E. Bedell, Copyright 0