Symphony No. 4 (Lutosławski)

Polish composer Witold Lutosławski wrote his Symphony No. 4 in 1988–92, completing it on 22 August 1992.[1]

Structure

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The symphony, lasting 20–25 minutes, is in one continuous movement embodying two sections: a preparatory section and a development section with an epilogue.

Analysis

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See Stucky.[1]

Orchestration

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3 flutes (3rd flute also taking piccolo), 3 oboes (3rd oboe also taking English horn), 3 clarinets (2nd also taking E clarinet; 3rd clarinet also taking bass clarinet), 3 bassoons (3rd also on contrabassoon), 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (bass drum, bongos, chimes, glockenspiel, marimba, snare drum, suspended cymbals, tam-tam, tenor drum, tom-toms, vibraphone, xylophone), 2 harps, piano, celesta, and strings.[1]

World Premiere

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The symphony received its world premiere on February 5, 1993 from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, with the composer conducting, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. It was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic with the support of Betty Freeman.[1]

Recordings

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Orchestra Conductor Record Company Year of Recording Format
Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra Witold Lutosławski Polskie Nagrania Muza 1993 CD
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra Esa-Pekka Salonen Sony Records 1993 CD
Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra Antoni Wit Naxos Records 1994 CD
Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra Esa-Pekka Salonen Deutsche Grammophon 2006 Digital Download
Silesian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk Dux Records 2004 CD
Saar Radio Symphony Orchestra Roman Kofman CPO 1995 CD
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Hannu Lintu Ondine 2018 SACD
NDR Symphony Orchestra Krzysztof Urbański Alpha 2016 CD

References

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Notes
Sources

Stucky, Steven (1993). "About the Piece: Symphony No. 4". Los Angeles Philharmonic. Archived from the original on 2007-12-03. Retrieved 2009-01-12.