Walton Symphony No.1

[jazzy_dave]

Another English composer to end the night with.

William Walton - Symphony No. 1

In musical terms, this work is a landmark of English composition and represents the peak of Walton's symphonic thinking. The two composers in favour in 1930s England were Beethoven and Sibelius, advocated by Constant Lambert in his book Music Ho!. Walton cleverly draws on both sources: the first movement is written in Beethovenian sonata form, and the developmental procedures clearly derive from Beethoven. But within this skeletal frame, the first movement is shot through with smaller Sibelius-like motifs (such as the opening horn call) which run throughout the movement and bind it together. The thematic rigour and shattering emotional power of the movement — and the Symphony as a whole — may be attributed to this unique method of musical construction.


Played by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Semyon Bychkov.

Comments

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Great piece of music. :)
Hugs, Jon

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

*HUGS*