CLIX. MYASKOVSKY, Nikolai: Symphony #19 in E-Flat Major, Op. 46

CLIX. MYASKOVSKY, Nikolai (1881-1950)

Symphony #19 in E-Flat Major, Op. 46 (1939)
1. Maestoso (5:27)
2. Moderato (6:26)
3. Andante serioso (7:05)
4. Poco maestoso (4:37)
State Academic Orchestra
Evgeny Svetlanov, cond.

[I usually prefer to choose a live YouTube performance, but in this case the Tokyo Wind Sinfonica was not up to the standards of this wonderful Soviet performance.]

**

Here's something to chew on:

In 1935, CBS radio asked its audience to name the Top Ten contemporary composers who would "remain among the world's greats" in 100 years?

The winners? Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich, Richard Strauss, Stravinsky, Sibelius, Ravel, de Falla, Fritz Kreisler, and ... Myaskovsky!

Often called the "Father of the Soviet Symphony," Myaskovsky wrote 27 of 'em.

This one was written for the Red Army band -- but its musical materials are just as profound and exciting as his works which include a string section.

There are no saxophones -- probably because they were considered a decadent instrument of the West.

First Movement

A broad Maestoso quickly leads into this delightful little skipping melody in the Cornet:

A secondary -- slightly related -- theme in the Tenor and Baritone Horns is accompanied by contrapuntal writing in the clarinets ...

The two themes are developed and brought to a rousing conclusion.

Second Movement

A slow, eerie waltz-like movement begins with a tender melody in the clarinet:

Later, Myaskovsky inserts a strange duple-meter with which he continually interposes the original 3/4:

Third Movement

A slow dirge with tubas and baritone horn:

Fourth Movement

After a brief maestoso, Myaskovsky really lets thing fly with this romping 6/8, and then brings the whole symphony to a crashing conclusion, with a restatement of the initial, first movement maestoso ...