FROM HAYDN TO SCHUBERT
For this concert we have chosen two symphonies written by two of the greatest composers of this orchestral form. Two contrasting works that remind us of the literary and artistic movement of pre-19th century Germany "Sturm und Drang", by Schiller and Goethe.
Programme Notes
Symphony No. 31 in D Major, Hob.I:31, Hornsignal, F. J. Haydn: Symphony No.31 in D Major, known as the Hornsignal, also dated to 1765, is unusual in its scoring, calling for a solo flute, a pair of oboes, four horns and strings with a solo violin, solo cello and solo double bass, in addition to the expected continuo The first movement opens with the horn signal that gives the work its popular name and the secondary material of the repeated exposition allows the flute three rapidly ascending scales. The horn signal returns to start the development and the solo flute is again allowed its scales. Unexpectedly the recapitulation begins in D minor, followed by the horns and the second part of the first subject. The full horn signal is left until the final bars. The G Major slow movement is in the gentle mood of a Siciliana and calls for a solo violin, accompanied by plucked strings, before the entry of the second pair of horns, now in G, soon to be followed, after another solo violin passage, by the first pair of horns, instruments in D. The solo violin moves into the height of its range, answered by a solo cello, and the first section, to be repeated, ends quietly. The same solo instruments are deployed in the repeated second half of the movement, again with a hushed conclusion that allows the solo cello its final word. The whole orchestra is used in the following Minuet, with a Trio that makes telling use of the pair of oboes. The last movement is a theme and variations, the former announced by the strings, which accompany what follows Oboes and a pair of horns dominate the first variation, with the second given to the solo cello, the third to the flute and the demanding fourth to the four horns. The solo violin provides a fifth version of the material, with a sixth for the whole ensemble and a seventh for strings with a double bass solo. A D minor link then leads to a final Presto that ends with a final horn signal of over-all unity.
Symphony No. 4 in C minor, D. 417, "Tragic”: Schubert (1797-1828), similarly to Beethoven, is located between the Classicism and the Romanticism, showing aspects and characteristics of the two periods in his compositions. In fact, parallel to a context of formal procedures and harmonies, and an extreme sensitivity that we find explicitly in his lieder and pieces for piano, we also find in his instrumental music some classical formality, closer to Haydn and Beethoven. In addition, Schubert continued to abundantly develop the genres structured on the basis of the principle of the sonata form, as it is the case of the Symphony. However, in general, the romantic Symphonies followed the path initiated by Beethoven, who explored the most of their formal potentialities, and took titles that define their characteristics. This is the case of the Fourth Symphony in C minor, composed in 1816, in the prime of youth of the composer, and called the "Tragic" by the author himself. The reason for this title is unknown, but this is the first of the only two symphonies (the other is the Unfinished Symphony) that Schubert wrote in the minor key, traditionally associated with the idea of sadness. In formal terms, it adopts a classic pattern common to other Schubert’s Symphonies: a slow introduction followed by a fast Movement in sonata form, a second Movement with a lyrical character, a third in the form of dance (Minuet) and the finale in Rondo form, with a dense preparation, quick and conclusive.
Programme
J. HAYDN (1732 – 1809)
Symphony No.31 in D major Hob.I:31, "Hornsignal".
F. SCHUBERT (1797-1828)
Symphony No. 4 in C minor D. 417 "Tragic”
Orquestra Clássica do Sul
Rui Pinheiro, Principal Conductor
55 minutos, Duration
08/10
FARO
Universidade do Algarve
Grande Auditório Caixa Geral de Depósitos - Campus de Gambelas
06.00pm
Free admission
Universidade do Algarve, Organization
#OCSorquestra
