Sinfonietta (Prokofiev)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sergei Prokofiev around 1918

The Sinfonietta in A major by the Russian composer Sergei Prokofjew (1891–1953) was written as his op. 5 in 1909, but was revised in 1914 and again in 1929 and finally published under the double opus number 5/48.

Origin, premiere and reception

Prokofiev's Sinfonietta in A major was written in the summer of 1909 in his family's home in the Ukraine as a result of his lessons with Nikolai Tscherepnin , who encouraged his interest in the works of Mozart , Haydn and old dance forms. The work, provisionally assigned the opus number 5, however, remained unpublished. Prokofiev's appreciation for his creation was expressed, however, in the fact that he revised it twice - in 1914 and 1929 - pointing out that he “at that time did not yet have the necessary skills for a transparent spelling”.

After the first revision in 1914, the Sinfonietta was first heard in a concert organized by Alexander Siloti in St. Petersburg . The final version from 1929 was premiered on November 18, 1930 under the direction of Konstantin Saradschew in Moscow . The score of the Sinfonietta in A major, dedicated to Tscherepnin, was published in 1931 as Prokofiev's op. 5/48 in the Édition russe de musique.

In his later memoirs, Prokofiev expressed astonishment that the Sinfonietta, which is so similar in structure to his 1st Symphony, sounds comparatively seldom.

Cast and characterization

The orchestra does without timpani and percussion and includes the following instruments: 2 flutes , 2 oboes , English horn , 2 clarinets , 2 bassoons , 4 horns , 2 trumpets and strings .

Sentence sequence:

  • I. Allegro giocoso
  • II. Andante
  • III. Intermezzo. Vivace
  • IV. Scherzo. Allegro risoluto
  • V. Allegro giocoso

The gesture of the Sinfonietta with its five short movements (total playing time about 20 minutes) refers in many ways to Prokofiev's later 1st symphony, the Symphonie classique , especially in the dance movements I, III and V, each in the 6/8 -Tact stand. Andante and Scherzo, on the other hand, have a rather brooding or grotesque effect. The pursuit of classic transparency is also reflected in the lean cast. Unexpected key shifts are characteristic . Thematically , the final sentence goes back to the beginning.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Natalja Pawlowna Sawkina: Sergei Sergejewitsch Prokofjew . Schott, Mainz / Piper, Munich 1993, ISBN 3-7957-8281-3 , p. 61
  2. ^ Sergei Prokofiev: Autobiography, Articles, Reminiscenses . Ed. S. Shlifstein. University Press of the Pacific, Honolulu, 2000. ISBN 0-89875-149-7 , p. 76

literature

  • Hansjürgen Schaefer: Concert book orchestral music. PZ. VEB Dt. Publisher f. Music, Leipzig 1974, p. 46.
  • CD supplement Chandos CHAN 8442: Prokofjew: 7th Symphony / Sinfonietta. Scottish Nat. Orch., Neeme Järvi. Text: Noël Goodwin

Web links