1st Symphony (Prokofiev)

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The Symphony no. 1 in D major , Opus 25 (composed 1916-17, premiered on April 21, 1918 in Petrograd ) is the shortest and yet most famous symphony by Sergei Prokofiev .

The symphony owes its nickname "Classical" to its loving, parodic use of a musical language reminiscent of Joseph Haydn and the early Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (who was also an admirer of Mozart ). The work is characterized by cheerfulness and vitality and is characterized by a sophisticated rhythm and the transparent use of an orchestra with a pre-romantic cast . Leonard Bernstein described it as a prime example of "humor in music".

Prokofiev said he got a taste for the scores of Haydn and Mozart through his teacher Nikolai Tscherepnin . This finally gave him the idea of ​​“composing an entire symphonic work without the aid of the piano. With a work created in this way, the orchestral colors should sound purer. So the plan arose to write a symphony in the style of Haydn, because somehow his technique seemed particularly clear to me in my composition class and, under such familiar circumstances, it must be easier to plunge into the dangerous water without a piano. If Haydn was still alive today, I thought, he would keep his way of writing while adopting some of the new. I wanted to write such a symphony - a symphony in the classical style. "

The work consists of four movements. The total duration is about 15 minutes.

  1. Allegro
  2. Larghetto
  3. Gavotta: Non troppo allegro
  4. Finale: Molto vivace

Reception (selection)

  • Part of the first movement was used as the theme song by the culture magazine aspekte for many years .
  • The coda of the first movement is used as the end credits for the WDR3 program, Mosaik .
  • The symphony was chosen as ballet music by a number of choreographers , including Boris Pilato ( Essen 1972).

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