The Boston Symphony Orchestra commissioned the Eighth Symphony and gave its first performance on March 5, 1965, conducted by Erich Leinsdorf, to whom the score is dedicated.[1] Initially, Piston had preferred to write a flute concerto for the Boston Symphony's principal flautist, Doriot Anthony Dwyer, but Leinsdorf preferred a symphony. The concerto was eventually composed in 1971.[2] According to another account, however, it was Piston himself who expressed a preference for a symphony.[3]
Although Piston had occasionally employed twelve-tone technique from early on, it is much more in evidence in the Eighth Symphony than ever before, and this brings with it a heightened level of impassioned, almost tragic expression. The first movement begins with a melody constructed from a twelve-tone series, C D♭ E F A♭ G F♯ E♭ D A B B♭, accompanied by two six-note chords consisting of the second and first hexachords of the same row. This series lends the music a dark solemnity because of its emphasis on minor seconds and minor thirds.[1] After such a slow, prelude-like opening movement, a slow second movement is somewhat surprising. It is in variation form. The theme is announced in the bassoon followed by the flute, with subsequent variations in the strings, a moderato mosso, and three further variations.[5] The concluding Allegro marcato is in a large binary form with a short coda. Like most Piston finales, it is rhythmically propulsive. Inversion of melodic lines is a significant feature of this movement, which concludes with a spirited timpani solo.[4]
Receptionedit
Reviews of the symphony's premiere were mixed, which had not been the case since the premiere of the First Symphony. Piston's biographer believes the similarity in response was due to similar weaknesses in the two symphonies, including "murky and surreal details that overwhelm the formal design".[3]
symphony, piston, symphony, walter, piston, symphony, dating, from, 1965, contents, history, analysis, reception, references, further, readinghistory, editthe, boston, symphony, orchestra, commissioned, eighth, symphony, gave, first, performance, march, 1965, . The Symphony No 8 by Walter Piston is a symphony dating from 1965 Contents 1 History 2 Analysis 3 Reception 4 References 5 Further readingHistory editThe Boston Symphony Orchestra commissioned the Eighth Symphony and gave its first performance on March 5 1965 conducted by Erich Leinsdorf to whom the score is dedicated 1 Initially Piston had preferred to write a flute concerto for the Boston Symphony s principal flautist Doriot Anthony Dwyer but Leinsdorf preferred a symphony The concerto was eventually composed in 1971 2 According to another account however it was Piston himself who expressed a preference for a symphony 3 Analysis editThe work is in three movements Moderato mosso nbsp 80 Lento assai Allegro marcato The symphony is about 20 minutes in duration 4 Although Piston had occasionally employed twelve tone technique from early on it is much more in evidence in the Eighth Symphony than ever before and this brings with it a heightened level of impassioned almost tragic expression The first movement begins with a melody constructed from a twelve tone series C D E F A G F E D A B B accompanied by two six note chords consisting of the second and first hexachords of the same row This series lends the music a dark solemnity because of its emphasis on minor seconds and minor thirds 1 After such a slow prelude like opening movement a slow second movement is somewhat surprising It is in variation form The theme is announced in the bassoon followed by the flute with subsequent variations in the strings a moderato mosso and three further variations 5 The concluding Allegro marcato is in a large binary form with a short coda Like most Piston finales it is rhythmically propulsive Inversion of melodic lines is a significant feature of this movement which concludes with a spirited timpani solo 4 Reception editReviews of the symphony s premiere were mixed which had not been the case since the premiere of the First Symphony Piston s biographer believes the similarity in response was due to similar weaknesses in the two symphonies including murky and surreal details that overwhelm the formal design 3 References edit a b Archibald 1978 267 Pollack 1982 156 a b Pollack 1982 141 a b Archibald 1969 597 Pollack 1982 143 Sources Archibald Bruce 1969 Walter Piston Pine Tree Fantasy for Orchestra Symphony No 8 Notes second series 25 no 3 March 596 597 Archibald Bruce 1978 Reviews of Records Walter Piston Symphony No 7 Symphony No 8 Louisville Orchestra Jorge Mester Walter Piston Symphony No 5 Louisville Orchestra Robert Whitney Walter Piston Concerto for Viola and Orchestra Paul Doktor viola Louisville Orchestra Robert Whitney Walter Piston The Incredible Flutist Louisville Orchestra Jorge Mester The Musical Quarterly 64 no 2 263 268 JSTOR 741453 Pollack Howard 1982 Walter Piston Studies in Musicology Ann Arbor UMI Research Press ISBN 0 8357 1280 X Further reading editLindenfeld Harris Nelson 1975 Three Symphonies of Walter Piston An Analysis DMA thesis Part 2 Ithaca Cornell University Portal nbsp Classical music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Symphony No 8 Piston amp oldid 1069050525, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
