Heute ist es 135 Jahre her

von LePenseur

 

 

... daß die 4. Symphonie in F-dur, op. 31, von — seit 1902: Sir — Charles Villiers Stanford in Berlin erfolgreich in einem Konzert, das ausschließlich den Werken dieses anglo-irischen Komponisten gewidmet war, uraufgeführt wurde.

Die Satzbezeichnungen lauten:

I. Allegro vivace e gioioso 00:00 

II. Intermezzo. Allegretto agitato (ma moderato in tempo) - Tranquillo ma l'istesso tempo 12:05 

III. Andante molto moderato 21:13 

IV. Finale. Allegro non troppo - Maestoso 34:53 

 

Es spielt das Ulster Orchestra unter Leitung von Vernon Handley 

 

 

Stanford was commissioned to compose his Fourth Symphony for Berlin, where it was presented on 14 January 1889 in a programme devoted to his music under the composer's direction, with Joachim as the soloist in his Suite for Violin and Orchestra. Even 100 years later what 35 year-old British composer could attract a large audience in Berlin, with a one man programme, and including a major commission and the leading violinist of his day as soloist? Stanford's achievement was very real. 

 

Between the Third and Fourth symphonies Stanford only managed to compose two other works, the Oedipus Rex Prelude and the modest but charming A Child's Garland of Songs. The new symphony was largely written in Cambridge, the first three movements being dated there on 4 and 24 June and 15 July 1888. It was completed in Dublin on the last day of July 1888. The first British performance was at a Crystal Palace Concert under the baton of August Manns on 23 February 1889. 

 

The symphony was very cordially received at the time, but failed to achieve the popularity of its predecessor. At the Bournemouth Municipal concerts for example, always a good barometer of the times, the Irish Symphony was given nine performances, but the Fourth Symphony was only ever heard once. 

 

Stanford prefaced the symphony with a motto: Thro' Youth to Strife, Thro' Death to Life. This implies a generalised programme for each movement - Youth, Strife, Anticipations of Death and Freedom from Worldly Cares - but later Stanford appears to have regretted having been so open and he suppressed the quotation, perhaps feeling that some of the music was not of a character for such a programme.

(1990 Lewis Foreman)