I. Allegro
II. Larghetto
III. Gavotte
IV. Finale
Prokofieff’s symphony is a delightful little work, fresh, melodious,
vivacious, with significant themes; masterly, not pedantic treatment of
them; charming orchestration achieved by apparently simple means, but
showing consummate skill. The first movement and the _finale_ are in
many measures truly Mozartean in mood, the _larghetto_ and the gavotte
are more modern but in no way agressively contradictory.
* * *
This symphony, begun in 1916, was completed in 1917. The first
performance was at Leningrad by the orchestra now known as the State
Orchestra. The first performance in the United States was at a concert
of the Russian Symphony Orchestra in New York, in December, 1918.
The symphony, scored for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two
bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, kettledrums, and strings, is
dedicated to Boris Assafieff, who, as Igor Gleboff, has written much
about music. “The composer’s idea in writing this work was to catch the
spirit of Mozart and to put down that which, if he were living now,
Mozart might put into his scores.”[41]
I. _Allegro_, D major, 4-4 time. The chief theme is given to the first
violins. A transitional passage has material for the flutes. Development
follows. The second theme is for first violins. The development begins
with use of the first subject. The transitional measures are taken up,
later the second theme. The recapitulation opens in C major (strings).
Then follows the transitional passage (D major) for the flute. The
second theme is again for the strings. There is a short _coda_.
II. _Larghetto_, A major, 2-2 time. First violins announce the chief
theme. There are episodes.
III. _Gavotta_: _Non troppo allegro_, D major, 4-4 time. The subject is
given at once to strings and wood-wind. The trio is in G major (flutes
and clarinets above an organ point for violoncellos and double basses).
This subject is repeated by the strings.
IV. _Finale_: _Molto vivace_, D major, 2-2 time. The first theme is for
the strings; the second, A major, for wood-wind.
SERGEI VASSILIEVICH
RACHMANINOFF
(Born at Onega in the government of Novgorod, April 1, 1873)