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programming the orchestra world

shostakovich’s fourth symphony

This is a work that I really hope that we get to do someday at the Oregon Symphony.  It uses tons of extra musicians, so it’s very expensive to do, but I hope that we can scrape together the 19-odd woodwinds plus brass to do this incredible piece.  I’ve only done it once before, in grad school at the Peabody Conservatory, and it was amazing then, but it would be a great piece for the OSO to sink its teeth into!

7 replies on “shostakovich’s fourth symphony”

Thanks for that excerpt. I agree with you that it would be a great piece to hear in Portland. I would love to hear the 10th symphony as well. I was struck by the concert hall in Berlin. It is quite attractive. I wonder what it is like acoustically? Anyone out there ever been to it? If so, I would like to hear more about it. Looks like the audience surrounds the orchestra. Charles, have you found your on-line subscription to the Berlin Phil to be worth it?

Curtis – the Philharmonie is said to be acoustically spectacular – it is similar in its design to Disney Hall (which it predates by three decades or so) with its so-called “vinyard” seating plan. As for the online subscription: very much worth it, I’m planning on renewing for next season.

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KGB party music.

ps
the berlin phil hall has the absolutely best acoustics i’ve ever heard. complete top to bottom clarity with a warm balance & blend that is unparalleled.

Hi Charles,

20 individual woodwind parts, 19 brass, 2 sets of tympani plus 7 percussion, 2 harps, celeste and strings. I hope to program this with PYP one of these seasons. You’re welcome to come sit in for rehearsals. I have played this symphony twice, it’s quite an experience!

I think the scheduled performances of the Nielsen 6th Symphony next season will give the Oregon Symphony something quite similar to “sink its teeth into”. Like the Shostakovich 4th, it is a dark, tragic and more than slightly maniacal and unhinged work. I’ve heard it’s a ferociously difficult piece to play …. and the composer called it his “Simple Symphony” !

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