Symphony no. 1

My first symphony, composed in 2006. It is in three-movement form. The opening movement has two characters, one sounding like awakening of nature and the other being powerful and drammatic. The second movement acts like an intermezzo and is followed by an expressive finale, which is the heart of the symphony, lasting 10 minutes. I have mixed feelings about this piece now - I am still proud of some sections and less proud of other. It is my first symphony though. :) It is orchestrated for large orchestra, with addition of alto flute, piccolo and multiple percussionists for special occasions. Comments welcome!

Hi! It's a joy always for me to score-read and listen pieces with grand scope. 

After the first listening indeed I found that the dramatic arc in the first movement seems a bit incomplete. The ending came as a sort of surprise to me, I felt that there had been no real climax. of course leaving one part of a multi-movement piece open formally as a "question" is a perfectly valid approach and I can't comment on if I think it works here after only my first listen. 

I have to say though, I really love the sound-textures in the beginning of the second movement. I feel as if you could have developed the timbral world there even more. Or at least thats what I would have liked to hear. The interplay between pizz. cello and harp in the very start there is something I lament that there is only one bar of. But your thinking is more in terms of melodic development than timbral one, it seems. Definitely an inspiring introduction for me though, I might try to develop something similar myself. 

At bar 43, 2nd mov, I definitely hear Stravinsky. 

The attaca from 2nd to 3rd also works really well. Combining the basses of the second movement with the motion in the woodwinds from the first is a cool touch. 

And then in bar 100 or so at the third movement I am now reminded of Scelsci and his pieces for orchestra that use a single tone. This seems like a very different world from the rest of the symphony. 

A very banal though as a final first impression of the symphony is that though it's culminations seem to hint at music that is very rhythmically active and high tension and complexity, then most of the time it was slow and reserved instead. Or maybe I have been listening to too much of Printempts recently. 

On 27. 6. 2016 at 1:12 AM, Yachar said:

Hi! It's a joy always for me to score-read and listen pieces with grand scope. 

After the first listening indeed I found that the dramatic arc in the first movement seems a bit incomplete. The ending came as a sort of surprise to me, I felt that there had been no real climax. of course leaving one part of a multi-movement piece open formally as a "question" is a perfectly valid approach and I can't comment on if I think it works here after only my first listen. 

I have to say though, I really love the sound-textures in the beginning of the second movement. I feel as if you could have developed the timbral world there even more. Or at least thats what I would have liked to hear. The interplay between pizz. cello and harp in the very start there is something I lament that there is only one bar of. But your thinking is more in terms of melodic development than timbral one, it seems. Definitely an inspiring introduction for me though, I might try to develop something similar myself. 

 

At bar 43, 2nd mov, I definitely hear Stravinsky. 

The attaca from 2nd to 3rd also works really well. Combining the basses of the second movement with the motion in the woodwinds from the first is a cool touch. 

And then in bar 100 or so at the third movement I am now reminded of Scelsci and his pieces for orchestra that use a single tone. This seems like a very different world from the rest of the symphony. 

A very banal though as a final first impression of the symphony is that though it's culminations seem to hint at music that is very rhythmically active and high tension and complexity, then most of the time it was slow and reserved instead. Or maybe I have been listening to too much of Printempts recently. 

 

Wow this is quite a long review :)

I am aware of my problems of the first movement, I have improved ever since.

And indeed, my first symphony has perhaps too many ideas to make it a full formally developed symphonic world. But it is my first symphony and will keep it untouched, as a document of my skills back in 2006.

Thank you!