2nd symphony (Honegger)

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The symphony No. 2 H153 by the Swiss composer Arthur Honegger was written in 1941 as a reaction of the composer to the events of the Second World War .

Instrumentation and sentence names

Honegger wrote his second symphony only for string orchestra and a trumpet .

“This [the addition of the trumpet, note] not to achieve a desired effect, but simply to get a support for the melody of the first violinist, which strides in long notes and is otherwise the same due to the polyphony of the other instruments Tone color threaten to be drowned out! "

- Arthur Honegger : 1943.

.

  1. Molto moderato - Allegro
  2. Adagio mesto
  3. Vivace ma non troppo - Presto

music

A plaintive three-tone melody on the solo viola describes Honegger's deep grief, whose oppressive mood is present throughout the symphony. The viola melody, which also recurs in the second movement, is contrasted with the Allegro in the first movement. The Adagio mesto also retains the gloom and despair. In virtuous third set Honegger searched for a "brilliant member as contrast to the first two sets [...]." ( Arthur Honegger : 1943.) The music is condensed in the strings rapidly until the Solotrompete with the at JS Bach ajar Choral releases the tension of the symphony. Together, the second, third and fourth symphonies can be viewed as a war trilogy, since all three Honegger's attempts to process impressions of the Second World War. When Honegger wrote the second symphony, the German Wehrmacht was just occupying Paris , where he was then staying . At the end of the work, the trumpet's chant promises liberation from suffering.

The performance lasts an average of 25 minutes.

Dedication and premiere

The symphony is dedicated to Paul Sacher , who conducted the world premiere on May 18, 1942 with the Zurich Collegium Musicum in Zurich .

literature

  • Attila Csampai / Dietmar Holland (ed.): The concert guide. Orchestral music from 1700 to the present. 1st edition. Rowohlt Verlag, Hamburg 1987. ISBN 3-8052-0450-7 .
  • Klaus Schweizer: Reclam's concert guide. Orchestral music. 18th edition. Philipp Reclam jun. GmbH & Co., Stuttgart, 1998, 2006. ISBN 978-3-15-010602-0 .
  • Malcolm MacDonald (translation by Eckhart van den Hoogen): Honegger. Symphonies 1-5. EMI France 1979.

Web links

Arthur Honegger website (English / French)