Manfred Symphony
The Manfred Symphony (opus 58) is a program symphony in four pictures by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky based on the dramatic poem Manfred by Lord Byron from 1816. The world premiere took place on March 11, 1886 under Max Erdmannsdörfer in Moscow. The four images are the four movements of the symphony.
Due to the literary program, the work can actually be assigned to the symphonic poem founded by Berlioz and Liszt . The Manfred Symphony was not included in the numbered series of Tchaikovsky's symphonies, probably because of his fluctuating attitude towards the work. First he described it as “a score that was created with inexpressible effort and exertion” and as his “best symphony”. After the unhappy premiere, however, he spurned it as a repulsive work.
History of origin
Tchaikovsky was asked to set Manfred in 1882 by Mili Balakirew . Hector Berlioz (1803–1869) had previously rejected the topic for reasons of health and age. Balakirev had very precise ideas about the content and even the keys. Tchaikovsky also refused at first, because he did not believe that he could add anything new to Robert Schumann's Manfred composition , which he loved .
At the end of October 1884 Tchaikovsky went on short notice to a dying friend in Davos , Switzerland. The circumstances of the visit, the experience of the alpine mountains in connection with intensive preoccupation with the Manfred poetry made him rethink. While still in Davos, he promised Balakirew the setting of Manfred and began composing in April 1885 (he interrupted work on the opera Die Zauberin ). Inspired by the desire to complete the symphony as quickly as possible, he worked tirelessly until it was completed in September of the same year. Tchaikovsky identified himself with the dramatic subject so much that he became more and more restless, even depressed, over the work.
Tchaikovsky, who followed his own ideas, did not take over everything from Balakirev's original program proposal, but received the idea of the program symphony and symphonic poetry.
Content and sentences
Manfred has an incestuous relationship with his half-sister Astarte. When the relationship becomes known, Manfred flees to the Alps, grieving over the separation from his beloved sister. The music describes the hero's state of mind directly as well as parable in grandiose images of nature.
Tchaikovsky prefixed each of the four movements of the symphony with short prose information.
For the first movement (Lento lugubre - Moderato con moto - Andante, 4/4 time, B minor) Tchaikovsky wrote: “Manfred wanders around in the Alps. His life is shattered, many burning questions remain unanswered, nothing is left to him except memories. The figure of the ideal Astarte hovers through his senses, he calls out to her in vain, only the echo of the rocks repeats her name. Thoughts and memories torment him, he seeks to forget that nobody can give him. ”The movement does not follow the usual pattern of a sonata movement , but is in the form of a fantasy with a recognizable three-part structure.
The second movement (Vivace con spirito, 2/4 time, B minor) takes up a suggestion Balakirew had originally proposed for the third movement: "The Alpine fairy appears before Manfred under the rainbow of a waterfall", which Tchaikovsky like glitter and spray in the sunlight through the music.
The third movement (Andante con moto, 6/8 time, G major) is a pastoral in which Tchaikovsky describes the “simple, free and peaceful life of the mountain dwellers” as a contrast to Manfred's inner conflict. Manfred believes he can find peace here, but he doesn't really immerse himself in this life: with his appearance the music becomes restless and torn.
In the fourth movement (Allegro con fuoco, C measure, B minor) Tchaikovsky again followed Balakirev's draft program: “The underground palace of Ariman. Manfred appears in the middle of the Bacchanal. Invocation of the shadow of the Astarte. She prophesies the end of his earthly suffering. Manfred's death. "
occupation
- three flutes (the third flute also plays piccolo), two oboes, cor anglais, two clarinets, bass clarinet, three bassoons
- four horns, two trumpets, two cornets (cornets à pistons), three trombones, bass tuba
- Timpani, drums, bells
- two harps
- Harmonium (often played on organ)
- Strings
Individual evidence
- ↑ Karl Schumann: Manfred Symphony op. 58. Text attached on a record by Melodia, USSR
Web links
- Manfred Symphony : Sheet Music and Audio Files in the International Music Score Library Project