Chamber Symphony No. 1

The Chamber Symphony No. 1 in E major, Op. 9 (also known by its title in German Kammersymphonie, für 15 soloinstrumente, Op. 9 or simply as Kammersymphonie, Op. 9) is a composition by Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg. It was finished in 1906 and premiered on February 8, 1907 in Vienna by the Quatuor Rose together with a wind ensemble from the Vienna Philharmonic. In 1935, Schoenberg wrote a transcription for large orchestra with the opus number 9b, which was premiered in Los Angeles with Schoenberg as conductor.

Structure

The Chamber Symphony is a single-movement work which lasts approximately 20 minutes. Even though it is often considered and listed as one movement, it has been suggested that the form could be considered as subdivided into as many as five continuous movements. Schoenberg himself outlined the following form using the rehearsal numbers as reference points:

• I. Sonata. Allegro (Beginning to No. 38)
• II. Scherzo (Nos. 38–60)
• III. Development (Nos. 60–77)
• IV. Adagio (Nos. 77–90)
• V. Recapitulation and Finale (Nos. 90–100)^[1]

Composition

Schoenberg claimed in later years that "(Chamber Symphony No. 1 in E major) was a first attempt to create a chamber orchestra."^[1] It is scored for the following instruments:

Woodwind Flute/Piccolo Oboe English Horn E-flat Clarinet Clarinet Bass Clarinet Bassoon Contrabassoon Brass 1st French Horn 2nd French Horn

Strings 1st Violin 2nd Violin Viola Cello Double Bass

Although this composition is called a chamber work, it requires a conductor to be performed. Some critics have claimed that an ensemble formed by 10 winds and only 5 strings is inherently unbalanced; however, some of the voices are doubled in a way that no instrument is playing one-on-one against another. Nevertheless, it requires highly trained musicians to perform this piece.^[1]

Notable recordings

• Chamber Symphony No. 1 is one of the most recorded works by Schoenberg and has received attention from conductors like Sir Simon Rattle, Riccardo Chailly, Claudio Abbado, Giuseppe Sinopoli, Zubin Mehta, and chamber groups like the Hyperion Ensemble, Hagen Quartett and Orpheus. A 1998 Robert Craft conducted performance on the Naxos recording label received a positive critical reception.^[2][3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Robert Craft (2007). "Booklet from the CD 8.557523 from the Naxos catalogue" (HTML). Naxos. Hong Kong: Naxos Digital Services Ltd.. http://www.naxos.com/mainsite/blurbs_reviews.asp?item_code=8.557523&catNum=557523&filetype=About%20this%20Recording&language=English#. Retrieved July 25, 2011. "[...] a first attempt to create a chamber orchestra." 
2. ^ "Reviews for the CD 8.557523 from the Naxos catalogue" (HTML). MusicWeb International, Gramophone, Limelight, David's Review Corner. Hong Kong: Naxos Digital Services Ltd.. March-August 2007. http://www.naxos.com/reviews/reviewslist.asp?catalogueid=8.557523&languageid=EN. Retrieved July 23, 2011. 
3. ^ Blair Sanderson (2007). "Review for the CD 8.557523 from the Naxos catalogue." (HTML). Santa Clara: Rovi Corporation. http://www.allmusic.com/album/arnold-schoenberg-pierrot-lunaire-w151379/review. Retrieved July 23, 2011. "7 stars out of 10" 

External links

• Chamber Symphony No. 1 in E major, Op. 9: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project.