Symphony No. 2 in A major is a classical composition by American composer Douglas Moore. It was composed in 1945 and received its premiere in Paris on May 5, 1946, conducted by Robert Lawrence.[1] In the following year the American premiere was given in Los Angeles, Alfred Wallenstein conducting.[1][2]
The symphony is Moore's second essay in that form and is dedicated to the memory of Stephen Vincent Benét,[1] who supplied the libretto for Moore's opera The Devil and Daniel Webster. A work of moderate length and a classical conception inspired by Haydn, it represents Moore's fully formed mature style and is unarguably one of his best pieces. Moore himself described it as: "an attempt to write in clear, objective, modified classical style, with emphasis on rhythmic and melodic momentum rather than upon sharply contrasted themes or dramatic climaxes".[1][3]
It is in four movements,[4] three of which end in a quiet manner. The symphony lasts approximately twenty minutes.[5]
Movements
edit- Andante con moto; Allegro giusto
- The first movement starts with a solemnly lyric and wistful theme given out by trumpet, oboe and strings, which is carried out through the first section in a somewhat nostalgic fashion. The calmness is later abandoned in favour of a more lilting and dancelike mood on strings, which moves along in a processional way before a crescendo leads to the short coda ending the movement in silence. This movement features significantly more use of percussion, xylophone and triangle, than the other three.
- Andante quieto semplice
- While the symphony as a whole is not in any way programmatic, the second movement was in part inspired by a James Joyce poem concerning twilight music.[1] This is understandable, as most of the music is nocturnal save for a few passionate outbursts which may relate to the work In Memoriam from a few years earlier. It is clearly indicative of Moore's ability to write sensitive and heartfelt music.
- Allegretto
- This is the shortest and most jovial and most obviously neoclassical of all the movements. It starts with a happy and bubbling theme on woodwinds which forms the basis of the whole movement. In the more animated middle section (where the woodwind indulges in some trilling baroquery) a second theme on trumpet is countered by the main theme in a delightfully contrapuntal way before winding down into stillness.
- Allegro con spirito
- The beginning of the last movement is proclaimed, in a declamatory fashion, on brass only to introduce the robust and energetic main theme that persists throughout. Following the introduction the orchestra leads into a rondo-like section with alternatingly rousing and flowing treatments, where the main theme dominates. After several louder expositions the main theme is played out faster on strings building up a heroic atmosphere and leading to a bursting crescendo of kinetic energy after which a drumroll leads the movement to the spirited closing diminuendo.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Julius Bloom (ed.). "January 1947". The Year in American Music 1946–1947. New York: Allen, Towne & Heath. p. 155 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Music: It Ain't Necessarily So". Time. 27 January 1947. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
- ^ Quoted in Nicholas Tawa (2009). The Great American Symphony: Music, the Depression, and War. Indiana University Press. p. 154. ISBN 9780253002877.
- ^ Douglas S. Moore: Symphony No. 2 in A major at AllMusic
- ^ "Douglas Moore: Symphony No. 2 in A major (1945)", G. Schirmer, Wise Music Group
- McBride, Jerry L (2011). Douglas Moore: A Bio-bibliography. Music Library Association, A-R Editions. p. 54. ISBN 9780895796660.[clarification needed]
