Classical Music | Orchestral Music

Recorded on 07/01/2006, uploaded on 08/20/2009

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

On May 12, 1926, Dmitri Shostakovich became one of the few composers in history to premiere a first symphony to a warm and enthusiastic reception. Considered to be a child prodigy, Shostakovich had entered the Petrograd Conservatory at the age of thirteen under the watchful eye of Alexander Glazunov, who had once been something of prodigy himself. Perhaps Glazunov saw a reflection of his much younger self in the young man, but he took an interest in Shostakovich’s welfare while at the Conservatory and personally arranged the premiere of his First Symphony.

Although Shostakovich composed his First Symphony as a graduation exercise, many of its idea actually may have traced back even further. At its American premiere with Leopold Stokowski and the Philadelphia Orchestra, the composer’s aunt recognized in the symphony themes that Shostakovich used to play as a child; in particular, themes the young lad associated with Aesop’s “The Grasshopper and the Ant” and Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid.” Nevertheless, the Symphony No. 1 in F minor displayed a burgeoning musical talent, already on the precipice of maturity, and saturated with an individual voice that had little need to fall back on the mannerisms of past composers.

Scored for a rather full orchestra that includes alto trumpet and piano, Shostakovich’s First Symphony follows a comparatively conventional Romantic era four-movement design. The sonata form first movement juxtaposes a march-like first theme reminiscent of vaudeville against a graceful waltz tune, both of which can easily be reckoned among the composer’s most memorable melodies. Shunning the seriousness of the opening movement, the following Allegro takes on a satirical mood and betrays the influence of Prokofiev. Shifting moods again, the Lento third movement is tragic and gloomy, and features a quotation from Richard Wagner’s Siegfried. Without pause, the Lento passes into the Finale, a movement that seems to take it upon itself to embody all the varying moods already touched upon by the other movements. Nevertheless, the symphony concludes with a rousing fanfare.      Joseph DuBose

Courtesy of The International Festival-Institute at Round Top

Located in historic Round Top, Texas, The James Dick Foundation for the Performing Arts and its sole project, The International Festival-Institute at Round Top, were founded in 1971 by world-renowned concert pianist James Dick. Begun with a handful of gifted young pianists in rented space on the town square, the project is now an internationally acclaimed European-styled music institute for aspiring young musicians and distinguished faculty. Over a thirty eight year period and with the help of its patrons and friends, The James Dick Foundation for the Performing Arts has developed superb year round education and performance programs.