Czech composer Josef Suk's Second Symphony, named "Asrael" (Czech: „Asrael“, Symfonie pro velký orchestr c moll), was completed in 1906 following the deaths first of his father-in-law, in 1904, and then of his wife. Inevitably mournful but also vital in nature, the five-movement, hour-long work is cast in C minor and scored in Straussian vein for large orchestra. It was published as Opus 27. The composer had married Otilie Dvořáková, daughter of his composition teacher, Antonín Dvořák.
Suk began to compose his funeral[1] symphony at the beginning of 1905, about eight months after Dvořák's death. The composition was titled after Asrael (Azrael), known as the angel of death in the Old Testament[2] and as the Islamic carrier of souls after death.[3] The work is in five movements. Suk completed the sketches of three movements less than a half year later. On 6 July 1905, while Suk was in the middle of the work, his wife Otilie died.[4] Although the composition was to be also a celebration of Dvořák's life and work, the desolated composer rejected the optimistic tone of the rest of the work. Suk himself recalled:
The fearsome Angel of Death struck with his scythe a second time. Such a misfortune either destroys a man or brings to the surface all the powers dormant in him. Music saved me and after a year I began the second part of the symphony, beginning with an adagio, a tender portrait of Otilka.[5]
Suk completed the score on 4 October 1906. He dedicated the work "to the exalted memory of Dvořák and Otilie",[6] in particular the last two movements to Otilie.
The influence of Dvořák's composing style, apparent in Suk's previous work, is not noticeable in this composition, according to Vysloužil, who writes that Suk develops his musical language rather toward modern polyphonic and harmonic techniques.[8] Suk included several music quotations in tribute to his father-in-law and wife, including quotes from Dvořák's Requiem and opera Rusalka.[5]
"We Generally Drink Our Pain Alone". Stabat Mater (Dvořák), Asrael (Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, Václav Talich) (CD). Josef Suk. Prague: Supraphon. 2005. pp. 8–15. SU 3830-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)[2]
asrael, symphony, czech, composer, josef, second, symphony, named, asrael, czech, asrael, symfonie, velký, orchestr, moll, completed, 1906, following, deaths, first, father, 1904, then, wife, inevitably, mournful, also, vital, nature, five, movement, hour, lon. Czech composer Josef Suk s Second Symphony named Asrael Czech Asrael Symfonie pro velky orchestr c moll was completed in 1906 following the deaths first of his father in law in 1904 and then of his wife Inevitably mournful but also vital in nature the five movement hour long work is cast in C minor and scored in Straussian vein for large orchestra It was published as Opus 27 The composer had married Otilie Dvorakova daughter of his composition teacher Antonin Dvorak Symphony No 2Asraelby Josef SukPortrait of Suk with dedication To Dear Miss Otilka Dvorakova 1894KeyC minorOpus27Composed1905 1905 06Dedication to the exalted memory of Dvorak and Otilie Durationabout one hourMovementsfivePremiereDate3 February 1907 1907 02 03 LocationPrague National TheatreConductorKarel Kovarovic Contents 1 Background 2 Structure 3 Instrumentation 4 Recordings 5 Notes 6 References 7 External linksBackground editSuk began to compose his funeral 1 symphony at the beginning of 1905 about eight months after Dvorak s death The composition was titled after Asrael Azrael known as the angel of death in the Old Testament 2 and as the Islamic carrier of souls after death 3 The work is in five movements Suk completed the sketches of three movements less than a half year later On 6 July 1905 while Suk was in the middle of the work his wife Otilie died 4 Although the composition was to be also a celebration of Dvorak s life and work the desolated composer rejected the optimistic tone of the rest of the work Suk himself recalled The fearsome Angel of Death struck with his scythe a second time Such a misfortune either destroys a man or brings to the surface all the powers dormant in him Music saved me and after a year I began the second part of the symphony beginning with an adagio a tender portrait of Otilka 5 Suk completed the score on 4 October 1906 He dedicated the work to the exalted memory of Dvorak and Otilie 6 in particular the last two movements to Otilie The symphony was premiered on 3 February 1907 at the Prague National Theatre conducted by Karel Kovarovic Karel Hoffmann and Jiri Herold members of the Czech Quartet attended the premiere as the concertmasters of the orchestra of the National Theatre 7 Structure editThe composition is in five movements Andante sostenuto Andante Vivace Adagio a portrait of Suk s wife Adagio e maestoso The influence of Dvorak s composing style apparent in Suk s previous work is not noticeable in this composition according to Vyslouzil who writes that Suk develops his musical language rather toward modern polyphonic and harmonic techniques 8 Suk included several music quotations in tribute to his father in law and wife including quotes from Dvorak s Requiem and opera Rusalka 5 Instrumentation editThe symphony is scored for piccolo 2 flutes 2 oboes cor anglais 2 clarinets in B flat A E flat bass clarinet 2 bassoons contrabassoon 6 horns horns V and VI ad lib 3 trumpets in C 3 trombones tuba timpani triangle cymbals bass drum harp and strings Recordings edit1952 Czech Phil Talich Supraphon 1990 Royal Liverpool Phil Pesek Virgin 2007 Czech Phil Mackerras SupraphonNotes edit Album notes SU 3830 2 p 10 Andrew Clements 2011 03 31 Suk Asrael review The Guardian Retrieved 2017 03 19 Tim Ashley 2001 02 28 The sound of freedom The Guardian Retrieved 2017 03 19 Dopisy o zivote hudebnim i lidskem p 60 a b Duchen Jessica 2010 02 19 Observations Suk s Angel of Death is not for the faint hearted The Independent Retrieved 2017 03 19 Album notes SU 3864 2 p 10 Dopisy o zivote hudebnim i lidskem p 65 Vyslouzil Hudebni slovnik pro kazdeho p 518References editSuk Josef 2005 Vojteskova Jana ed Dopisy o zivote hudebnim i lidskem Prague Barenreiter ISBN 80 86385 31 0 Vyslouzil Jiri 2001 Hudebni slovnik pro kazdeho II Vizovice Lipa ISBN 80 86093 23 9 Roubicek Vit 2006 Asrael A Summer s Tale The Ripening Epilogue Fairy Tale Praga Czech Philharmonic Orchestra cond Vaclav Neumann Libor Pesek CD Josef Suk Translated by Ted Whang Prague Supraphon pp 8 12 SU 3864 2 1 We Generally Drink Our Pain Alone Stabat Mater Dvorak Asrael Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir Vaclav Talich CD Josef Suk Prague Supraphon 2005 pp 8 15 SU 3830 2 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link 2 External links editAsrael Symphony Symphony No 2 Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Score and Reduction Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Asrael Symphony amp oldid 1212845407, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
