4th Symphony (Bruckner)
The Fourth Symphony in E flat major ( WAB 104), nicknamed The Romantic, is next to the Seventh the most popular symphony by Anton Bruckner . The first version was written in 1874. The second version from 1878 contains a completely newly composed scherzo. In the years 1879/80 Bruckner revised the final again.
The very successful premiere took place on February 20, 1881 in Vienna with the Vienna Philharmonic under the direction of Hans Richter .
occupation
2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (in Bb), 2 bassoons, 4 horns (in F), 3 trumpets (in F), 3 trombones (alto, tenor, bass), 1 bass tuba, timpani (Eb, Bb), 1st violin , 2nd violin, viola, violoncello, double bass
Performance duration: approx. 66 min.
To the music
1st movement: Moving, not too fast ( E flat major , alla breve )
All four movements of the symphony are laid out in sonata form . The first complex of topics begins with a four-time horn call over a Bruckner-typical string tremolo in E flat major. For the second topic in 1890 wrote Bruckner in a letter: "... in the chant period is the theme of the song of the great tit Zizibee."
2nd movement: Andante quasi Allegretto ( C minor , 4/4)
In the second funeral march-like movement, the first theme, which, like the horn theme of the first movement, begins with the descending and ascending fifth, is initially entrusted to the cello . A string chorale follows later. In the letter mentioned above, Bruckner described this sentence as "song, prayer, serenade"; rather amusing than enlightening, he commented on it to friends: "In the second sentence, a boy in love wants to go through the window, but is not let in."
3rd movement: Scherzo. Moved ( B flat major , 2/4) - Trio: Not too fast, by no means sluggish ( G flat major , 3/4)
The Scherzo of the original version was replaced by a new composition by Bruckner in the revised second version from 1878/80. In this more well-known form, it is dominated by horn and trumpet signals reminiscent of hunting music . Here, too, there is a preference for the sound of the horns, which, as mentioned, contributed significantly to the epithet of the symphony. In addition, the trio has a rural character.
In the introduction to the scherzo, Bruckner quotes the beginning of the first scene of the second act from Tristan und Isolde by Richard Wagner .
4th movement: Finale. Moved, but not too fast (E flat major, alla breve)
The finale, in turn, lives from a more dramatic mood and, after a large-scale final increase, brings the main theme of the first movement in full brass .
Discography (selection)
- 1944: Wilhelm Furtwängler , Berlin Philharmonic - Urania
- 1951: Wilhelm Furtwängler, Vienna Philharmonic - DGG
- 1963: Otto Klemperer , Philharmonia Orchestra - EMI
- 1965: Eugen Jochum , Berliner Philharmoniker - DGG
- 1973: Karl Böhm , Vienna Philharmonic - Decca
- 1975: Herbert von Karajan , Berliner Philharmoniker - DGG
- 1975: Eugen Jochum, Concertgebouw Orchestra - Tahra
- 1981: Herbert Blomstedt , Staatskapelle Dresden - Denon
- 1983: Georg Solti , Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Decca
- 1991: Günter Wand , NDR Symphony Orchestra - RCA / BMG
- 1998: Sergiu Celibidache , Munich Philharmonic (live 1988) - EMI
- 1998: Stanisław Skrowaczewski , Saarbrücken Radio Symphony Orchestra - Arte Nova / Oehms
- 1998: Günter Wand, Berliner Philharmoniker - RCA / BMG
- 2004: Dennis Russell Davies , Bruckner Orchester Linz - Arte Nova
- 2006: Günter Wand, Munich Philharmonic (live 2001) - Profile Edition Günter Hänssler
- 2008: Simone Young , Philharmoniker Hamburg , original version 1874 (live December 1–3, 2007) - Oehms Classics OC 629
- 2011: Gerd Schaller , Philharmonie Festiva , Version 1878/1880 - Profile Edition Günter Hänssler
- 2012: Herbert Blomstedt , Gewandhausorchester Leipzig - Querstand
- 2013: Gerd Schaller , Philharmonie Festiva , “Volksfest” final (1878) - Profile Edition Günter Hänssler
literature
- Hansjürgen Schaefer: Anton Bruckner: A guide through life and work. Henschel, Berlin 1996.
- Renate Ulm (Ed.): The Bruckner Symphonies. Origin, interpretation, effect. Bärenreiter, Kassel 2005, ISBN 3-7618-1590-5 .
Web links
- 4th Symphony : Sheet music and audio files in the International Music Score Library Project
- Complete discography by John Berky
- AudioVideo: The third movement of the symphony (played by a young orchestra under the conductor Patrick Strub)