Friday, July 31, 2015

Freedom Friday: Symphony 5 Movement I by Shostakovitch

I have posted a video of Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic in Tokyo (1979). 
Don't hesitate to let me know any additions or clarifications you would make to my following observations:  

low string 2 note call  followed by higher string 2 note answer

Violin descending and ascending melody leading into

Just after 2 minutes we hear descending melodic lines against a brief 6 note ostinato

around 3 minutes Bernstein's closed eyes reveal how well versed he is with this score

at 3'30" oboe solo followed quickly by flute and bassoon (an often appreciated trio in this piece)

then we hear the familiar 2 note call from the beginning followed by horn 3'54" then bassoon and oboe are added
hearing muted trumpet enters in stark contrast instrumentally to the mellow sounds heard thus far

a new feel starts at
5'10" I love the 3 note short short long in the low strings with violin continually modulating melody

pizzacato

arpegiotic bit is heard in cellos  with sustained melodic line in the violins until we hear--low clarinet

flute (just before 7 minutes) followed by  low sustained clarinet again and then more flute

calming violin leading into eerie tremelo then clarinet cat-like melody ---

back to the short short long strings with eerie violin James Bond like melody

Wait, what? piano enters at 8'45" with marcato ostinato theme heard earlier accompanied by horns then trumpets add new sound (this whole section is very suspenseful)

it become Tom and Jerry like at 9'30" all of sudden things have gotten more playful as if all we've heard previously has been transformed (listen for pizzacato!!!)

trumpets and clarinets enter in playfully... horns make a hunters call....
Bernstein's face at 10'30" says it all....too funny and awesome

crash symbol at about 10'55" followed by muted trumpet leads into a staccato swung dotted version of the melody---uh? excuse me, when did this become a march? Love it!!

Low brass are heard with continued trumpet and mallets added along with other more full orchestration
Bernstein gives more great facial expressions at 11'45" like as if he's about to explode

The melody is getting so high in pitch around 12'30" Is it going to exceed my hearing range?

By the 12'40" point a powerful unison section climax is heard with exciting timpani entrances low brass are appreciated as they cap off this section, things get quiet until...

at 14' the short short long with flute beautiful melody and horn accompaniment ---how long is this movement? it's all good, keep going!

clarinet melody with flute counter melody all with continued short short long

woodwind features: oboe, flute, clarinet, bassoon

horn at 15'50" with strings then flute continue with melody that moves things forward while stings add 2 note ostinato call/response until

a piccolo solo 16'53"

more ostinato movement with violin solo melody

celesta is always appreciated--here it plays 3 ascending scales to end the first movement at 18'06"



[My Monday: Dance Dance Dance by Steve Miller Band]



2 comments:

  1. Enjoyed the comments. There are so many good things in this movement.

    The most difficult thing about classical music for me, is listening to pieces for the first time. This was the most captivating "first-listens" I've experienced. It features so many solos, instruments, and moods. I'd consider it a top 10 piece for me.

    I love your notes around 12:30: I'm so into the low brass (blasting is sometimes necessary) that I never listen to that melody.

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    Replies
    1. Wow, high praise coming from you!
      It took me about 3-4 listenings to get these thoughts together (hard to say if it was 3 or 4 because I did a lot of pausing and rewinding to get things 'right')

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