Symphony No. 2 (Moore)
Encyclopedia
Symphony No. 2 in A major is a classical
composition by American composer Douglas Moore. It was composed in 1945 and received its premiere in Paris
on May 5, 1946 directed by Robert Lawrence
. In the following year the American premiere was given in Los Angeles, Alfred Wallenstein
directing.
The symphony is Moore's second essay in that form and is dedicated to the memory of Stephen Vincent Benét
, who supplied the libretto for Moore's opera The Devil and Daniel Webster. A work of moderate length and a classical conception inspired by Haydn
, it represents Moore's fully formed mature style and is unarguably one of his best pieces. Moore himself described it as: "an attempt to write in clear, objective, modified classical style, with emphasis on rhythmic
and melodic
momentum rather than upon sharply contrasted themes
or dramatic climaxes".
It is in four movements, three of which end in a quiet manner. The symphony lasts approximately twenty minutes.
, then oboe
and strings
, which is carried out through the first section in a somewhat nostalgic fashion. The calmness is later abandoned in favour of a more lilting and dancelike mood on strings, which moves along in a processional way before a crescendo
leads to the short coda
ending the movement in silence. This movement features significant more use of percussion, xylophone
and triangle
, than the other three.
, the second movement was in part inspired by a James Joyce
poem concerning twilight
music. This is understandable, as most of the music is nocturnal
save for a few passionate outbursts which may relate to the work In Memoriam
of a few years earlier. It is clearly indicative of Moore's ability to write sensitive and heartfelt music.
of all the movements. It starts with a happy and bubbling theme on woodwind
s which forms the basis of the whole movement. In the more animated middle section (where the woodwind indulges in some trill
ing baroquery
) a second theme on trumpet is countered by the main theme in a delightfully contrapuntal
way before winding down into stillness.
only to introduce the robust and energetic main theme which persists throughout. Following the introduction the orchestra leads into a rondo
-like section with alternatingly rousing and flowing treatments, where the main theme dominates. After several louder expositions
the main theme is played out faster on strings building up a heroic atmosphere and leading to a bursting crescendo of kinetic energy after which a drumroll leads the movement to the spirited closing diminuendo.
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
composition by American composer Douglas Moore. It was composed in 1945 and received its premiere in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on May 5, 1946 directed by Robert Lawrence
Robert Lawrence
Robert Lawrence may refer to:* Robert Lawrence , British folk singer* Robert Lawrence * Robert Lawrence , English saint...
. In the following year the American premiere was given in Los Angeles, Alfred Wallenstein
Alfred Wallenstein
Alfred Wallenstein was an American cellist and conductor, born in Chicago, Illinois. At the age of 17, he joined the San Francisco Symphony as a cellist. He subsequently played cello with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra before becoming principal cello of the New...
directing.
The symphony is Moore's second essay in that form and is dedicated to the memory of Stephen Vincent Benét
Stephen Vincent Benét
Stephen Vincent Benét was an American author, poet, short story writer, and novelist. Benét is best known for his book-length narrative poem of the American Civil War, John Brown's Body , for which he won a Pulitzer Prize in 1929, and for two short stories, "The Devil and Daniel Webster" and "By...
, who supplied the libretto for Moore's opera The Devil and Daniel Webster. A work of moderate length and a classical conception inspired by Haydn
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn , known as Joseph Haydn , was an Austrian composer, one of the most prolific and prominent composers of the Classical period. He is often called the "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet" because of his important contributions to these forms...
, it represents Moore's fully formed mature style and is unarguably one of his best pieces. Moore himself described it as: "an attempt to write in clear, objective, modified classical style, with emphasis on rhythmic
Rhythm
Rhythm may be generally defined as a "movement marked by the regulated succession of strong and weak elements, or of opposite or different conditions." This general meaning of regular recurrence or pattern in time may be applied to a wide variety of cyclical natural phenomena having a periodicity or...
and melodic
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
momentum rather than upon sharply contrasted themes
Theme (music)
In music, a theme is the material, usually a recognizable melody, upon which part or all of a composition is based.-Characteristics:A theme may be perceivable as a complete musical expression in itself, separate from the work in which it is found . In contrast to an idea or motif, a theme is...
or dramatic climaxes".
It is in four movements, three of which end in a quiet manner. The symphony lasts approximately twenty minutes.
Andante con moto; Allegro giusto
The first movement starts with a solemnly lyric and wistful theme given out by trumpetTrumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, then oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
and strings
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
, which is carried out through the first section in a somewhat nostalgic fashion. The calmness is later abandoned in favour of a more lilting and dancelike mood on strings, which moves along in a processional way before a crescendo
Dynamics (music)
In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece, either stylistic or functional . The term is also applied to the written or printed musical notation used to indicate dynamics...
leads to the short coda
Coda (music)
Coda is a term used in music in a number of different senses, primarily to designate a passage that brings a piece to an end. Technically, it is an expanded cadence...
ending the movement in silence. This movement features significant more use of percussion, xylophone
Xylophone
The xylophone is a musical instrument in the percussion family that consists of wooden bars struck by mallets...
and triangle
Triangle
A triangle is one of the basic shapes of geometry: a polygon with three corners or vertices and three sides or edges which are line segments. A triangle with vertices A, B, and C is denoted ....
, than the other three.
Andante quieto simplice
Whilst the symphony as a whole isn't in any way programmaticProgram music
Program music or programme music is a type of art music that attempts to musically render an extra-musical narrative. The narrative itself might be offered to the audience in the form of program notes, inviting imaginative correlations with the music...
, the second movement was in part inspired by a James Joyce
James Joyce
James Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
poem concerning twilight
Twilight
Twilight is the time between dawn and sunrise or between sunset and dusk, during which sunlight scattering in the upper atmosphere illuminates the lower atmosphere, and the surface of the earth is neither completely lit nor completely dark. The sun itself is not directly visible because it is below...
music. This is understandable, as most of the music is nocturnal
Nocturne
A nocturne is usually a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night...
save for a few passionate outbursts which may relate to the work In Memoriam
In memoriam (Moore)
In memoriam is a symphonic poem by the American composer Douglas Moore.Moore wrote In memoriam in 1943 in memory of the young soldiers who died in World War II. It is Moore's darkest work and contrasts strongly with the ebullient Symphony in A major, which was written two years later. Most of the...
of a few years earlier. It is clearly indicative of Moore's ability to write sensitive and heartfelt music.
Allegretto
This is the most jovial, shortest and obviously neoclassicalNeoclassicism (music)
Neoclassicism in music was a twentieth-century trend, particularly current in the period between the two World Wars, in which composers sought to return to aesthetic precepts associated with the broadly defined concept of "classicism", namely order, balance, clarity, economy, and emotional restraint...
of all the movements. It starts with a happy and bubbling theme on woodwind
Woodwind instrument
A woodwind instrument is a musical instrument which produces sound when the player blows air against a sharp edge or through a reed, causing the air within its resonator to vibrate...
s which forms the basis of the whole movement. In the more animated middle section (where the woodwind indulges in some trill
Trill
Trill may refer to:* Trill , a type of musical ornament* Trill consonant, a type of sound used in some languages*Trill, a type of bird food-Fiction:* Trill , two symbiotic races of aliens in the fictional Star Trek universe...
ing baroquery
Baroque music
Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...
) a second theme on trumpet is countered by the main theme in a delightfully contrapuntal
Counterpoint
In music, counterpoint is the relationship between two or more voices that are independent in contour and rhythm and are harmonically interdependent . It has been most commonly identified in classical music, developing strongly during the Renaissance and in much of the common practice period,...
way before winding down into stillness.
Allegro con spirito
The beginning of the last movement is proclaimed, in a declamatory fashion, on brassBrass instrument
A brass instrument is a musical instrument whose sound is produced by sympathetic vibration of air in a tubular resonator in sympathy with the vibration of the player's lips...
only to introduce the robust and energetic main theme which persists throughout. Following the introduction the orchestra leads into a rondo
Rondo
Rondo, and its French equivalent rondeau, is a word that has been used in music in a number of ways, most often in reference to a musical form, but also to a character-type that is distinct from the form...
-like section with alternatingly rousing and flowing treatments, where the main theme dominates. After several louder expositions
Exposition (music)
In musical form and analysis, exposition is the initial presentation of the thematic material of a musical composition, movement, or section. The use of the term generally implies that the material will be developed or varied....
the main theme is played out faster on strings building up a heroic atmosphere and leading to a bursting crescendo of kinetic energy after which a drumroll leads the movement to the spirited closing diminuendo.