The symphony is written in a single movement of 22 variations and is approximately 45 minutes in length. Ronald Weitzman writes, "The form of Schnittke's Fourth Symphony [is] at once cross-shaped and spherical.... The composer draws musically on the three main strands of Christianity—Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant—while underlying this is a three–note semitone interval motif representing synagogue chant, thus symbolizing the Jewish source of Christianity."[3] The result, Ivan Moody writes, is that Schnittke "attempts to reconcile elements of znamennïy and Gregorian chant, the Lutheran chorale and Synagogue cantillation ... within a dense, polyphonic orchestral texture"[4] A tenor and a countertenor also sing wordlessly at two points in the symphony. Words are saved for a finale in which all four types of church music are used contrapuntally[5] as a four-part choir sings the Ave Maria.[6] The choir can choose whether to sing the Ave Maria in Russian or Latin.[6] The programmatic intent of using these different types of music, Schnittke biographer Alexander Ivashkin writes, is an insistence by the composer "on the idea ... of the unity of humanity, a synthesis and harmony among various manifestations of belief."[7]
Overview
While in Vienna in 1980, Schnittke decided to embrace Christianity and be baptized but was not sure what church to join. His father had been born Jewish[8] but was an atheist[9] and both his parents had been devoted to Communist ideals.[9] He was drawn to Catholicism but felt that, as a Russian, a move toward Russian Orthodoxy might be more appropriate. Schnittke decided to be baptized as a Catholic but made his confessions twice yearly afterwards to a Russian Orthodox priest who would visit his Moscow apartment.[9]
The Fourth Symphony reflects Schnittke's religious dilemma.[6] The symphony is based on the traditional 15 Mysteries of the Rosary of the Roman Catholic Church, which retrace the life of Jesus through the eyes of his mother Mary.[3] In the 22 variations that make up the symphony's single movement,[a 1] Schnittke "follows the canons of the Passions of Jesus Christ,"[7] depicting "decisive moments in Christ's life"[10] and, as in the Second Symphony, giving a detailed musical commentary on what is being portrayed.[7]
Alexander Ivashkin writes that when the symphony received its first performance in Paris, "Schnittke was generally pleased with the European precision of the playing. He nevertheless felt it should be sung by a Russian Choir. A Western performance might be brilliant, but it would inevitably lack the Russian intensity of extreme religious sensation."[6]
^The actual number of variations in the Schnittke Fourth Symphony is "a subtle non-synchronicity," of the piece, considering the "3 by 5 scheme" of the Rosary upon which these variations are reportedly based. Weitzman, notes for Chandos 9463, 5.
Ivashkin, Alexander, Alfred Schnittke (London: Phaidon Press Limited, 1996). ISBN0-7148-3169-7.
Sadie, Stanley (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Second Expanded Edition, 29 vols. London: Macmillan, 2001. ISBN0-333-60800-3.
Schnittke, Alfred, Aleksandr Ivashkin, John Derek Goodliffe (trans). A Schnittke reader Indiana University Press, 2002. ISBN978-0-253-33818-1.
Weitzman, Ronald, notes to Chandos 9463, Schnittke: Symphony No. 4; Three Sacred Hymns; Iarslav Zdorov, countertenor; Dmitri Pianov, tenor; Igor Khudolei, piano; Evgeniya Khlynova, celesta; Elena Adamovich, harpsichord; Russian State Symphonic Cappella and Russian State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Valery Polyansky (Colchester: Chandos Records Ltd., 1996).
March 21, 2023
symphony, schnittke, russian, composer, alfred, schnittke, wrote, symphony, 1983, choral, symphony, written, tenor, countertenor, chorus, orchestra, first, performed, april, 1984, moscow, contents, structure, overview, instrumentation, notes, referencesstructu. Russian composer Alfred Schnittke wrote his Symphony No 4 in 1983 It is a choral symphony 1 written for tenor countertenor chorus and orchestra It was first performed on April 12 1984 in Moscow 2 Contents 1 Structure 2 Overview 3 Instrumentation 4 Notes 5 ReferencesStructure EditThe symphony is written in a single movement of 22 variations and is approximately 45 minutes in length Ronald Weitzman writes The form of Schnittke s Fourth Symphony is at once cross shaped and spherical The composer draws musically on the three main strands of Christianity Orthodox Catholic Protestant while underlying this is a three note semitone interval motif representing synagogue chant thus symbolizing the Jewish source of Christianity 3 The result Ivan Moody writes is that Schnittke attempts to reconcile elements of znamenniy and Gregorian chant the Lutheran chorale and Synagogue cantillation within a dense polyphonic orchestral texture 4 A tenor and a countertenor also sing wordlessly at two points in the symphony Words are saved for a finale in which all four types of church music are used contrapuntally 5 as a four part choir sings the Ave Maria 6 The choir can choose whether to sing the Ave Maria in Russian or Latin 6 The programmatic intent of using these different types of music Schnittke biographer Alexander Ivashkin writes is an insistence by the composer on the idea of the unity of humanity a synthesis and harmony among various manifestations of belief 7 Overview EditWhile in Vienna in 1980 Schnittke decided to embrace Christianity and be baptized but was not sure what church to join His father had been born Jewish 8 but was an atheist 9 and both his parents had been devoted to Communist ideals 9 He was drawn to Catholicism but felt that as a Russian a move toward Russian Orthodoxy might be more appropriate Schnittke decided to be baptized as a Catholic but made his confessions twice yearly afterwards to a Russian Orthodox priest who would visit his Moscow apartment 9 The Fourth Symphony reflects Schnittke s religious dilemma 6 The symphony is based on the traditional 15 Mysteries of the Rosary of the Roman Catholic Church which retrace the life of Jesus through the eyes of his mother Mary 3 In the 22 variations that make up the symphony s single movement a 1 Schnittke follows the canons of the Passions of Jesus Christ 7 depicting decisive moments in Christ s life 10 and as in the Second Symphony giving a detailed musical commentary on what is being portrayed 7 Alexander Ivashkin writes that when the symphony received its first performance in Paris Schnittke was generally pleased with the European precision of the playing He nevertheless felt it should be sung by a Russian Choir A Western performance might be brilliant but it would inevitably lack the Russian intensity of extreme religious sensation 6 Instrumentation EditThe symphony is scored for solo tenor counter tenor a chamber choir and a chamber orchestra comprising 1 flute doubling alto flute 1 oboe 1 clarinet 1 bassoon 1 horn 1 trumpet 1 trombone 4 percussionists playing glockenspiel vibraphone bells gong and tam tam celesta harpsichord piano and strings 11 Notes Edit The actual number of variations in the Schnittke Fourth Symphony is a subtle non synchronicity of the piece considering the 3 by 5 scheme of the Rosary upon which these variations are reportedly based Weitzman notes for Chandos 9463 5 Wilson New Grove 2001 24 848 Schnittke xxiii a b Weitzman notes for Chandos 9463 5 Moody New Grove 2001 22 566 Weitzman notes for Chandos 9463 7 a b c d Ivashkin Schnittke 161 a b c Ivashkin Schnittke 165 Ivashkin Schnittke 15 a b c Ivashkin Schnittke 160 Weitzman notes for Chandos 9463 6 Alfred Schnittke Symphony No 4 References EditIvashkin Alexander Alfred Schnittke London Phaidon Press Limited 1996 ISBN 0 7148 3169 7 Sadie Stanley ed The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians Second Expanded Edition 29 vols London Macmillan 2001 ISBN 0 333 60800 3 Schnittke Alfred Aleksandr Ivashkin John Derek Goodliffe trans A Schnittke reader Indiana University Press 2002 ISBN 978 0 253 33818 1 Weitzman Ronald notes to Chandos 9463 Schnittke Symphony No 4 Three Sacred Hymns Iarslav Zdorov countertenor Dmitri Pianov tenor Igor Khudolei piano Evgeniya Khlynova celesta Elena Adamovich harpsichord Russian State Symphonic Cappella and Russian State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Valery Polyansky Colchester Chandos Records Ltd 1996 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Symphony No 4 Schnittke amp oldid 1096028562, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
