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Symphony 2
In E minor, 4 movements, 1930-31†, 48:00
Sketched between June and 1 September 1930
FS 2 November 1930 to 6 April 1931
4 flutes (2 also piccolos) 4 oboes (2 also cors anglais), 4 clarinets (2 also bass clarinets), 4 bassoons (1 also contra), 16 horns, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 2 tubas, 3 × 3 timpani, cymbals, bass drum, 3 side drums, tam-tam, bell in F, glockenspiel, xylophone, celesta, 2 pianos, organ, 2 harps, strings
[horns: 6 in I and II, 16 in III, 8 in IV; 2 pianos and organ in III and IV only]
II Andante sostenuto [146 bars]
III Allegro assai – attacca [252 bars]
IV Lento maestoso e mesto [200 bars]
assigned to Cranz and Co, 1932, but not issued
assigned Schott and Co, 1949, hire only
Musica Viva published a facsimile study score in 1973, limited edition, now out of print
transferred to United Music Publishers in 1985 and then United Music Publishing in 2014
Timings
Head (Hanley) 1973 | Head (London) 1973 | Mackerras 1979 | Rowe 1996 | Fitz-Gerald 1998 | |
I Adagio solenne – allegro assai – attacca | 13:37 | 12:13 | 12:11 | 12:45 | 11:28 |
II Andante sostenuto | 15:15 | 14:10 | 11:59 | 15:18 | 12:39 |
III Allegro assai – attacca | 6:05 | 5:32 | 5:28 | 5:56 | 5:18 |
IV Lento maestoso e mesto | 17:11 | 16:08 | 19:20 | 19:29 | 15:25 |
Total | 52:08 | 48:03 | 48:58 | 53:28 | 44:50 |
Articles
• Götz von Berlichingen and Brian’s second symphony – Graham Saxby• Introduction – Graham Saxby
• Analysis : First movement – Graham Saxby
• Analysis : Second movement – Graham Saxby
• Analysis : Third movement – Graham Saxby
• Analysis : Fourth movement and Conclusion – Graham Saxby
• The influence of Goethe’s ‘Götz von Berlingen’ (1) – Damian Rees
• The influence of Goethe’s ‘Götz von Berlingen’ (2) – Damian Rees
• The influence of Goethe’s ‘Götz von Berlingen’ (3) – Damian Rees
• Second quality? – Paul Kettle
Performances
19 May 1973 [first performance] The Dome, Brighton, UK Kensington Symphony Orchestra, conductor Leslie Head |
21 May 1973 Victoria Hall, Hanley, UK live broadcast BBC Radio Stoke Kensington Symphony Orchestra, conductor Leslie Head • Reviews of the 1973 Kensington SO/Leslie Head performances – John Falding, Max Loppert |
24 May 1973 St John’s Smith Square, London 27 September 1973 BBC Radio London Kensington Symphony Orchestra, conductor Leslie Head • Reviews of the 1973 Kensington SO/Leslie Head performances – John Falding, Max Loppert |
9 March 1979 [first professional performance] BBC Maida Vale Studios, London 31 March 1979 BBC Radio 3 BBC Symphony Orchestra, conductor Sir Charles Mackerras |
May 1996 Mosfilm Studio, Moscow Moscow Symphony Orchestra, conductor Anthony Rowe |
6 September 1998 Reading The Purely for Pleasure Orchestra, conductor Mark Fitz-Gerald • A view from the back desks – David Hackbridge Johnson • A view from the audience – Roger Moseley |
5–6 September 2015 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Lynda Cochrane & Judith Keaney, pianos; Mark Hindley, organ; Royal Scottish National Orchestra, conductor Martyn Brabbins |
Recordings
Aries LP 1631 9 March 1979 [first professional performance] BBC Maida Vale Studios, London BBC Symphony Orchestra, conductor Sir Charles Mackerras |
Naxos 8.570506 released July 2007 May 1996 Mosfilm Studio, Moscow Moscow Symphony Orchestra, conductor Anthony Rowe • The Marco Polo cycle – David J Brown |
Dutton Vocalion CDLX 7330 released July 2016 5–6 September 2015 Glasgow Royal Concert Hall Lynda Cochrane & Judith Keaney, pianos; Mark Hindley, organ; Royal Scottish National Orchestra, conductor Martyn Brabbins |