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II. Andante pastorale con moto
1 mm. before reh. K - 7 mm. before reh. L |
Skills & Techniques: Dynamic Contrast, Rhythms
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Horn 1 (F)
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Russian State Symphony Orchestra (2003)
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Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (N/A)
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Composer & Composition Information
Anton Arensky (1861-1906)
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Anton Stepanovich Arensky was a Russian composer of Romantic classical music. Born in Novgorod, Russia, he had composed a slew of songs and pieces for piano by the age of nine. The family moved to Saint Petersburg in 1879, so that Arensky could attend the Saint Petersburg Conservatory and study with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. Upon graduation in 1882, he became a professor at the Moscow Conservatory, where his notable students included Alexander Scriabin and Sergei Rachmaninoff.
The text & image are reprinted from Luck's Music Library where more information about the composer can be found. |
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Symphony No. 1 in B minor, op. 4
Arensky certainly didn't hesitate to try his hand at large forms; among his first four published works are a piano concerto and this first of his two symphonies. Arensky wrote the work at age 22, during his first year as professor at the Moscow Conservatory. If the young composer relied a bit too heavily on Chopin as a model for the piano concerto, his first symphony is clearly inspired by models closer to home: Rimsky-Korsakov and especially Taneyev.
The first movement, despite its ominous, snarling Adagio introduction and its later tempo indication of Allegro patetico, is actually an energetic, mostly happy work. The impulsive first theme bustles about, over snatches of the movement's opening "growl." This gives way to another motif, highly lyrical but including a figure drawn from the introduction. Arensky subjects all this material to a full, dramatic development, richly orchestrated in a manner inspired by but not quite matching Rimsky-Korsakov.
The text is written by & reprinted from James Reel (All Music) where more information about the composition can be found.
The first movement, despite its ominous, snarling Adagio introduction and its later tempo indication of Allegro patetico, is actually an energetic, mostly happy work. The impulsive first theme bustles about, over snatches of the movement's opening "growl." This gives way to another motif, highly lyrical but including a figure drawn from the introduction. Arensky subjects all this material to a full, dramatic development, richly orchestrated in a manner inspired by but not quite matching Rimsky-Korsakov.
The text is written by & reprinted from James Reel (All Music) where more information about the composition can be found.
Notable Performances/Recordings:
Russian State Symphony Orchestra (2003)
Russian Symphony Society of New York (1907)
Russian State Symphony Orchestra (2003)
Russian Symphony Society of New York (1907)