The Fifth Symphony was composed from March to May 1946. Although Martinů initially spoke of dedicating it to the Red Cross, in the end the score was dedicated to the Czech Philharmonic, perhaps in anticipation of a return to his native land. Although this repatriation did not come about, the Fifth nevertheless is the only one of Martinů’s symphonies to have been premiered by a Czech orchestra: Rafael Kubelik conducted the Czech Philharmonic in the first performance, at the Prague Spring Festival on 28 May 1947.[1]
Instrumentationedit
The Fifth Symphony is scored for two flutes, piccolo, three oboes, three clarinets, three bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (cymbals, tam-tam, triangle, bass drum, side drum), piano, and strings.
Analysisedit
The symphony is in three movements:
Adagio—Allegro
Larghetto
Lento—Allegro
The general plan of the symphony does not adhere to the traditional form. Instead, Martinů said, it has a "more modern, better structure". This involves the alternation of slow and fast sections in all of the movements, and the symphony's most distinctive feature is its enlivenment by rhythmic devices.[2]
Like the Sixth Symphony but unlike all the earlier ones, the first movement of the Fifth Symphony begins with a slow introduction that returns as a postlude at the end, creating a frame around the main structure. In this case, however, the adagio also is found in the middle of the movement as an interlude, where it is followed by a combination of recapitulation and new development.[3]
The finale closes with a long passage in the minor mode, unlike any of the other five Martinů symphonies.[4]
Discographyedit
The 1955 monaural recording of the Fifth by Karel Ančerl was the first of Martinů's symphonies to be released commercially on LP. Ančerl recorded a stereophonic version for Canadian radio in 1972 (also released on LP), and a new studio recording in quadraphonic sound in 1977 was conducted by Václav Neumann as part of a complete traversal of the six Martinů symphonies.
Bohuslav Martinů: Symphony No. 5. Czech Philharmonic, Karel Ančerl, cond. Recorded in Dvořák Hall, Prague, 21–23 March 1955. 10-inch LP, monaural. Supraphon DM 5599. Prague: Supraphon, 1955. Reissued, 10-inch LP, Supraphon SUF 20035. Reissued in simulated stereo, 12-inch LP (with Martinů: Field Mass), Everest SDBR 3329. Los Angeles: Everest Records. Symphony reissued on CD (with Martinů: Memorial to Lidice, Les Fresques de Piero della Francesca, and The Parables). Supraphon 11 1931-2. Prague: Supraphon, 1992. Symphony reissued again on CD (with Martinů: Symphony No. 6 and Memorial to Lidice) on Karel Ančerl Gold Edition, vol. 34. Supraphon SU 3694-2. Prague: Supraphon, 2004.
Bohuslav Martinů: Symphony No. 3; Symphony No. 4; Symphony No. 5. Czech Philharmonic, Václav Neumann, cond. 2-LP set, quadraphonic. Supraphon 1410 2771/2. Prague: Supraphon, 1979. Reissued on CD, Martinů: Symphony No. 5; Fantaisies symphoniques (Symphony No. 6). CD recording, stereo. Supraphon 111968. [Prague]: Supraphon, 1995. Reissued as part of Martinů Symphonies. 3-CD set, stereo. Supraphon 110382. [Prague]: Supraphon, 1994.
Bohuslav Martinů: Symphonies Nos. 5 and 6. Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, Neeme Järvi, cond. CD recording, stereo. Recorded in the Dominikanerbau, Bamberg, Germany, March 1988. Bis 402. [Sweden]: Bis Records, 1993. Reissued as part of Bohuslav Martinů: The Symphonies. 3-CD set, stereo. Bis 1371/2. [Sweden]: Bis, 2003. Reissued, 3-CD set. Brilliant Classics 8950. [N.p.]: Brilliant Classics, 2008.
Bohuslav Martinů: Symphony No. 1; Symphony No. 5. Scottish National Orchestra, Bryden Thomson, cond. Recorded 17 and 19 April 1990, in the Caird Hall, Dundee. CD recording, stereo. Chandos CHAN 8915. Cassette tape, stereo. Chandos ABTD 1523. Colchester, Essex, England: Chandos, 1991.
Bohuslav Martinů: Symphonies No. 3 and 5. National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, Arthur Fagen, cond. Recorded at the National Radio Company of Ukraine, Kiev, March 1995. CD recording, stereo, Naxos 8553350. Hong Kong: Naxos Records, 2002.
Bohuslav Martinů: Symphonies Nos. 1–6. Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Vladimír Válek, cond. Recorded Prague, Czech Radio, Studio A, 2006. 3-CD set. Supraphon SU 3940. Prague: Supraphon, 2008.
Martinů: The 6 Symphonies. BBC Symphony Orchestra, Jiří Bělohlávek. Recorded live at the Barbican Hall, London, 3 October 3 (No. 1) and 9 October (No. 2), 2009; 19 February (No. 4), 19 March (No. 5), 17 April 17 (No. 3), and 8 May (No. 6), 2010. 3-CD set. Onyx 4061. [London]: Onyx Classics, 2011.
Referencesedit
Crump, Michael. 2010. Martinů and the Symphony. Symphonic Studies, no. 3. London: Toccata Press. ISBN9780907689652.
Evans, Peter (Autumn–Winter 1960). "Martinu the Symphonist". Tempo. New Series (55–56): 19–26, 31–33. doi:10.1017/S0040298200045551.
Šafránek, Miloš (Spring 1965). "Martinu's Musical Development". Tempo. New Series (72): 11–15. doi:10.1017/S0040298200033349.
Crump, Michael David. 1986. "The Symphonies of Bohuslav Martinu: An Analytical Study". M.Litt. diss. Birmingham: University of Birmingham.
Layton, Robert. 1966. "Martinů and the Czech Tradition". In The Symphony: Vol. II: Elgar to the Present Day, edited by Robert Simpson, pp. 218–29. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
Llade, Martín. 2009. "Las sinfonías de Bohuslav Martinů". Melómano: Revista de Música clásica 14, no. 144 (July–August): 58–62.
Powell, Larson. 2007. "Sound as Form: Martinů's Symphonies". Music and Society in Eastern Europe, no. 2 (December): 77–115.
Rathert, Wolfgang. 2009. "Die Sinfonien von Bohuslav Martinů: Ein Beitrag zur amerikanischen Musikgeschichte?" Musik-Konzepte neue Folge (November, special issue: Bohuslav Martinů), edited by Ulrich Tadday, 113–26. Munich: Edition Text + Kritik.
January 01, 1970
symphony, martinů, symphony, orchestral, composition, czech, composer, bohuslav, martinů, contents, history, instrumentation, analysis, discography, references, further, readinghistory, editthe, fifth, symphony, composed, from, march, 1946, although, martinů, . The Symphony No 5 H 310 is an orchestral composition by the Czech composer Bohuslav Martinu Contents 1 History 2 Instrumentation 3 Analysis 4 Discography 5 References 6 Further readingHistory editThe Fifth Symphony was composed from March to May 1946 Although Martinu initially spoke of dedicating it to the Red Cross in the end the score was dedicated to the Czech Philharmonic perhaps in anticipation of a return to his native land Although this repatriation did not come about the Fifth nevertheless is the only one of Martinu s symphonies to have been premiered by a Czech orchestra Rafael Kubelik conducted the Czech Philharmonic in the first performance at the Prague Spring Festival on 28 May 1947 1 Instrumentation editThe Fifth Symphony is scored for two flutes piccolo three oboes three clarinets three bassoons four horns three trumpets three trombones tuba timpani percussion cymbals tam tam triangle bass drum side drum piano and strings Analysis editThe symphony is in three movements Adagio Allegro Larghetto Lento Allegro The general plan of the symphony does not adhere to the traditional form Instead Martinu said it has a more modern better structure This involves the alternation of slow and fast sections in all of the movements and the symphony s most distinctive feature is its enlivenment by rhythmic devices 2 Like the Sixth Symphony but unlike all the earlier ones the first movement of the Fifth Symphony begins with a slow introduction that returns as a postlude at the end creating a frame around the main structure In this case however the adagio also is found in the middle of the movement as an interlude where it is followed by a combination of recapitulation and new development 3 The finale closes with a long passage in the minor mode unlike any of the other five Martinu symphonies 4 Discography editThe 1955 monaural recording of the Fifth by Karel Ancerl was the first of Martinu s symphonies to be released commercially on LP Ancerl recorded a stereophonic version for Canadian radio in 1972 also released on LP and a new studio recording in quadraphonic sound in 1977 was conducted by Vaclav Neumann as part of a complete traversal of the six Martinu symphonies Bohuslav Martinu Symphony No 5 Czech Philharmonic Karel Ancerl cond Recorded in Dvorak Hall Prague 21 23 March 1955 10 inch LP monaural Supraphon DM 5599 Prague Supraphon 1955 Reissued 10 inch LP Supraphon SUF 20035 Reissued in simulated stereo 12 inch LP with Martinu Field Mass Everest SDBR 3329 Los Angeles Everest Records Symphony reissued on CD with Martinu Memorial to Lidice Les Fresques de Piero della Francesca and The Parables Supraphon 11 1931 2 Prague Supraphon 1992 Symphony reissued again on CD with Martinu Symphony No 6 and Memorial to Lidice on Karel Ancerl Gold Edition vol 34 Supraphon SU 3694 2 Prague Supraphon 2004 Bohuslav Martinu Symphony No 5 Ottorino Respighi Fountains of Rome Toronto Symphony Orchestra Karel Ancerl cond Martinu Kazuyoshi Akiyama cond Respighi Recorded November 1971 and January 1972 Massey Hall Toronto LP recording stereo CBC Radio Canada SM 218 Toronto CBC Radio Canada Broadcast Recordings 1972 Bohuslav Martinu Symphony No 3 Symphony No 4 Symphony No 5 Czech Philharmonic Vaclav Neumann cond 2 LP set quadraphonic Supraphon 1410 2771 2 Prague Supraphon 1979 Reissued on CD Martinu Symphony No 5 Fantaisies symphoniques Symphony No 6 CD recording stereo Supraphon 111968 Prague Supraphon 1995 Reissued as part of Martinu Symphonies 3 CD set stereo Supraphon 110382 Prague Supraphon 1994 Bohuslav Martinu Symphonies Nos 5 and 6 Bamberg Symphony Orchestra Neeme Jarvi cond CD recording stereo Recorded in the Dominikanerbau Bamberg Germany March 1988 Bis 402 Sweden Bis Records 1993 Reissued as part of Bohuslav Martinu The Symphonies 3 CD set stereo Bis 1371 2 Sweden Bis 2003 Reissued 3 CD set Brilliant Classics 8950 N p Brilliant Classics 2008 Bohuslav Martinu Symphony No 1 Symphony No 5 Scottish National Orchestra Bryden Thomson cond Recorded 17 and 19 April 1990 in the Caird Hall Dundee CD recording stereo Chandos CHAN 8915 Cassette tape stereo Chandos ABTD 1523 Colchester Essex England Chandos 1991 Bohuslav Martinu Symphonies No 3 and 5 National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine Arthur Fagen cond Recorded at the National Radio Company of Ukraine Kiev March 1995 CD recording stereo Naxos 8553350 Hong Kong Naxos Records 2002 Bohuslav Martinu Symphonies Nos 1 6 Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra Vladimir Valek cond Recorded Prague Czech Radio Studio A 2006 3 CD set Supraphon SU 3940 Prague Supraphon 2008 Martinu The 6 Symphonies BBC Symphony Orchestra Jiri Belohlavek Recorded live at the Barbican Hall London 3 October 3 No 1 and 9 October No 2 2009 19 February No 4 19 March No 5 17 April 17 No 3 and 8 May No 6 2010 3 CD set Onyx 4061 London Onyx Classics 2011 References editCrump Michael 2010 Martinu and the Symphony Symphonic Studies no 3 London Toccata Press ISBN 9780907689652 Evans Peter Autumn Winter 1960 Martinu the Symphonist Tempo New Series 55 56 19 26 31 33 doi 10 1017 S0040298200045551 Safranek Milos Spring 1965 Martinu s Musical Development Tempo New Series 72 11 15 doi 10 1017 S0040298200033349 Crump 2010 pp 317 8 Safranek 1965 p 14 Evans 1960 pp 24 5 Crump 2010 p 319 Crump 2010 p 349 Further reading editCrump Michael David 1986 The Symphonies of Bohuslav Martinu An Analytical Study M Litt diss Birmingham University of Birmingham Layton Robert 1966 Martinu and the Czech Tradition In The Symphony Vol II Elgar to the Present Day edited by Robert Simpson pp 218 29 Harmondsworth Penguin Llade Martin 2009 Las sinfonias de Bohuslav Martinu Melomano Revista de Musica clasica 14 no 144 July August 58 62 Powell Larson 2007 Sound as Form Martinu s Symphonies Music and Society in Eastern Europe no 2 December 77 115 Rathert Wolfgang 2009 Die Sinfonien von Bohuslav Martinu Ein Beitrag zur amerikanischen Musikgeschichte Musik Konzepte neue Folge November special issue Bohuslav Martinu edited by Ulrich Tadday 113 26 Munich Edition Text Kritik Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Symphony No 5 Martinu amp oldid 1073115145, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
