Symphony No. 1 (Williamson)
The Symphony No. 1 Elevamini is an
orchestral work by Australian-born composer Malcolm Williamson
.
History of the Work
Williamson's Symphony No. 1 - Elevamini was written in 1956 and the early part of 1957, when he was barely 25 years of age. Considering this, the work has remarkable technical and structural assurance, and a profound emotional core which is quite astonishing coming from young composer so early on in his career.
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
. Although the symphony has since had few performances, they are gradually mounting as the profile of both the symphony and the composer begins to gain height.
Orchestration
2
cor Anglais), 2 clarinets (2nd doubling bass clarinet), 2 bassoons (2nd doubling contrabassoon), 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (gong, clash cymbals, suspended cymbal, triangle, 3 woodblocks, bass drum, snare drum & tenor drum), and strings.[1]
Notes on the Symphony
Williamson had recently moved to
Stravinsky incorporated within Williamson's very personal musical language.[2]
The symphony itself it built around a tone-row (indicating
tone-row, most of the symphony's material is derived in some way or another, such as the dissonant opening chords or the 'trio' section in the middle movement, scherzo
.
Structure
The symphony is broken up into three separate movements, as follows:
- I. Lento - Poco più mosso - Lo stesso tempo ma liberamente - Largo marziale - Tempo 1 - Andante lento - Tempo 1
- II. Allegretto - Poco più mosso - Tempo 1
- III. Lento assai - Allegro - Andante lento - Allegro come prima - Lento assai - Allegro
Recordings
- CHANDOS: Iceland Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Rumon Gamba
- LYRITA: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Charles Groves
References
| Opera |
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| Ballet |
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| Orchestral music | |
| Concertante | |
| Choral music | |
| Film scores | |
| Related articles | |
