2nd Symphony (Chatschaturjan)
The Symphony no. 2 in E Minor (composed 1943 final movement fashioned 1944) is the größtangelegte the three Sinfonien of Khachaturian .
Like Shostakovich's Seventh and Prokofiev's Fifth , it functioned as a patriotic-heroic Soviet “war symphony”. In contrast to the other two symphonies of Chatschaturjan, it therefore has a classic four-movement structure and an easily understandable, almost programmatic - didactic language that generally lacks the humor and originality of the First Symphony . Although the work is primarily characterized by its pathos, it has masterful features in its rhythmic and tonal design.
The symphony owes its semi-official nickname “Glockensinfonie” to the distinctive, dissonant opening bars that return at some points in the first movement and at the end of the final movement.
The composition was basically commissioned by Stalin, who asked Khachaturian in 1942 to prepare the Russian people for the imminent war and the associated privations, to accompany them in it and at the same time give them hope of survival after overcoming this catastrophe.
Since the war had already reached large parts of the Russian population by the time the symphony was being written, Khachaturian was strongly influenced by what was happening, which is reflected in his interpretations of the noise of battles, quiet passages of uncertain calm and occasional euphoria.
The choice of chords, owed to the dystopian mood, is usually represented in gloomy sevenths, which, however, sometimes open up euphorically and freely. The vulnerable sounding oboe in the middle section takes on the quiet part of the people to rebel and at the same time to resign, and depicts their sad mood, resigned to their fate.
It should be noted that the war was by no means decided when the work was written, but was only just beginning. The heroic-sounding final movement thus anticipates victory with a slight inkling.
Chatschaturjan based the melody structures on folkloric music from his Armenian homeland.
There is a remarkable recording of the symphony from 1958, played by the London Symphonic Orchestra and conducted by Khachaturian. It is in (then completely new) stereo technology and of such amazing quality that even the keys of the oboes and the turning of the notes in the back rows of the orchestra can be heard.
The work consists of four movements . The total duration is about 53 minutes.