Symphony No. 8 (Kabeláč)
The 8th Symphony "Antiphonies", Op. 54, by Miloslav Kabeláč was written in 1970 as a reflection of the composer's feelings from the invasion of Warsaw Pact troops into Czechoslovakia in 1968 and the onset of so-called "normalization" process in the society, which means renewal of strong dictate of the regime of pro-Soviet communist rulers, including heavy loss of basic freedoms for citizens of the country.
The composition consists of nine parts – five movements and four interludes, structure of which is controlled by a firm logical order, proportionally and symmetry. Its structural and expressive axis is the third – the longest movement. The intermedia linking the individual movements correspond both in time and music and differ only in an alternately opposite dynamic succession. The work is written for a
The 8th Symphony was inspired by
in June 1971.Description of composition
For this work Kabeláč selected quotations and formulas of a magical and symbolic meaning:
Parts
I. 1
II. A
III. 2
IV. B
V. 3
VI. C
VII. 4
VIII. D
IX. 5
Acclaimed recordings
- Symphony No. 8 Antiphonies, Metamorphoses II of the Chorale Lord, have mercy on us, Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Czech Philharmonic Choir, Prague Percussions Ensemble, conducted by Václav Neumann, 1984, Panton, re-release 1990 on CD
The soloists from the première, Jana Jonášová and Václav Rabas, repeated their roles, soprano and organ.