Program Notes

Program Notes Program Notes by April L. Racana 9 Wed. September 21 The 104th Tokyo Opera City Subscription Concert 21 Fri. September 23 The 884th Suntory Hall Subscription Concert Sun. September 25 The 885th Orchard Hall Subscription Concert 9 23 Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, op. 73,“Emperor” 9/21 9/23 together with two princes that gave I. Allegro (ca. 20 min) him the financial freedom to remain in II. Adagio un poco mosso (ca. 8 min) Vienna and dedicate himself to his art. III. Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo Unfortunately though, as a result of the (ca. 10 min) occupation, Beethoven along with all citizens of Vienna, were heavily taxed. As with his other works similarly Not only did the occupation result in less dubbed with additional titles, Beethoven financial freedom for the composer, but was not the one to subtitle his final piano limited his movement as well, so that he concerto “Emperor”. It is believed rather, was unable to spend time outside of the that his long time friend and pianist city in the countryside during the summer John Baptist Cramer, who was born in months, to which he had become Germany but based in London, gave the accustomed. name. While Beethoven thought highly of his pianist/publisher friend, he did The Piano Concerto No. 5 is in the not hold in high esteem emperors, so it traditional three-movement form, and is a bit of a puzzle as to why his friend not surprisingly is dedicated to Archduke would attach such a moniker to the work. Rudolph, who had been not only a patron In fact, at the time that Beethoven was but also a student of Beethoven’s. While composing this piece, Napoleon and his Beethoven had previously premiered French forces were soon to invade and his own piano concertos, his hearing occupy Vienna. loss had gotten to the point where he realized he could no longer perform Beethoven had recently completed his own works publicly. Instead, the his Fifth and Sixth symphonies, as well premiere was played by the organist, as his Fourth Piano Concerto, and had Friedrich Schneider in Leipzig in 1811. given the marathon concert of a number The following year, in February of 1812, of his recent works for a charity event in one of Beethoven’s students, Carl Czerny, December of 1808. It was in 1809 that gave the work its Vienna premiere. the composer began work on this his last piano concerto. He had recently been As with many of his compositions, given a contract by Archduke Rudolph, Beethoven was exploring new avenues 19 Program Notes 9 of expression, and this concerto was no hymn-like in the key of B major, resolving indicated in the score the bird song each Beethoven introduced his Fifth Symphony 21 different. Instead of the usual orchestral with a simple half-step by the bassoon to instrument was playing in the closing along with his Fourth Piano Concerto, exposition, the first movement opens B flat to return us to the dominant of the woodwind cadenza, with the flute playing two sections of the Mass in C major, the 9 with a single sustained chord by the original key of E flat major and the final the part of the nightingale, the oboe as concert aria Ah! Perfido, the Fantasia in G ensemble. This is immediately followed rondo in all its grandeur. a quail, and the clarinet a cuckoo. But major for piano, as well as the Fantasia in 23 by several cadenza-like passages from the again it seems it was Beethoven’s intent C minor for piano, chorus and orchestra. soloist, which are in turn emphatically Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 to create a serene atmosphere with these Needless to say it was somewhat resolved by the orchestra’s sustained bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, strings, solo sounds rather than a sound painting. overwhelming for the audience to sit 9 piano chords before taking off into the glorious through such a full program. And given 25 first theme. The second movement is The remaining three movements are that both the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies performed without pause, almost creating were composed about the same time, the effect of a three-movement work, their numbers were mistakenly reversed rather than the five indicated in the score. on the program for this premiere. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) In fact, many have commented that the fourth movement ‘Thunderstorm’, in all As the final movement expresses 9/21 9/23 9/25 Symphony No. 6 in F major, op. 68,“Pastorale” of its brevity, acts more as an introduction pure thanksgiving in an exultant hymn, for the final movement, ‘Shepherd’s one can’t help but hear Beethoven’s work as a whole, that his focus was more own words describe his joy at being I. 'Awakening of cheerful feelings on song. Happy and thankful feelings after on expressing the emotional reactions the storm.’ The third movement, ‘Merry surrounded by nature as he wrote in a arrival in the countryside.' ― Allegro to nature rather than presenting a ma non troppo (ca. 9 min) gathering of country folk’ is a fairly letter to a friend: “How glad I am to programmatic piece. traditional scherzo/trio form with abrupt be able to roam in wood and thicket, II. 'Scene by the brook.' ― Andante molto mosso (ca. 12 min) interruptions in even rhythms, almost as among the trees and flowers and Beethoven’s love for nature, in fact a foreshadowing of the storm to come. rocks. No one can love the country as III. 'Merry gathering of country folk.' ― his need to be in constant connection Allegro (ca. 5 min) And again, though the fourth movement I do…. In the country, every tree seems with nature, is well known. But the clearly depicts a scene during a sudden to speak to me…. In the woods, there IV. 'Thunderstorm.' ― Allegro (ca. 4 min) fact that, of all of his works, he felt it rainstorm, Beethoven’s hope was that the is enchantment, which expresses all V. 'Shepherd's song. Happy and thankful important to entitle each movement of audience would experience the emotions things…. For surely woods, trees, and feelings after the storm.' ― Allegretto his Pastorale Symphony, emphasizes at hand, beyond the inevitable sound rocks produce the echo that man desires (ca. 9 min) even more his strong feelings associated painting. to hear.” with his relationship with nature. The ‘Sinfonia caracteristica — or memories first movement, ‘Awakening of cheerful Symphony No. 6 was premiered Instrumentation: piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 of country life…. Sinfonia pastorella…. feelings upon arrival in the country’, may in December of 1808 at the massive clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, timpani, strings Anyone who has experienced country be an expression of his own personal concert at the Theatre an der Wien where life can determine the intentions of the feelings whenever he would leave the composer even without titles…. The city to take time out in the countryside, listener should be allowed to discover such as he often did. In fact when he the situation…. All painting in music composed this and his Fifth Symphony, is a failure if it is pushed too far…. among other works, during the summers Instead the music is more an expression of 1807 and 1808, he was on retreat in of feelings rather than a painting in the rural town, Heiligenstadt. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) sounds….’ Symphony No. 7 in A major, op. 92 9/25 The second movement, ‘Scene by the These various comments were written brook’, perhaps comes close to painting With his continually declining health I. Poco sostenuto – Vivace (ca. 12 min) by Beethoven in his sketches for the Sixth a picture of nature with the timbres of in the summer of 1811, Beethoven was II. Allegretto (ca. 9 min) Symphony and reveal that although he the orchestra aptly imitating the sound of referred by the prominent Viennese III. Presto – Assai meno presto, trio (ca. 8 min) did in fact give titles, not only to each the babbling brook as well as mimicking physician, Dr. Giovanni Malfatti to retreat IV. Allegro con brio (ca. 7 min) movement of the work, but also to the particular bird songs. Beethoven even to the Bohemian town of Teplitz, which 20 21.

Load more