- Symphony No. 4 (Prokofiev)
Sergei Prokofiev 's Symphony No. 4 in C major exists in two quite distinct versions.The original version was composed in 1929-30. Written on a commission from the
Boston Symphony Orchestra for their 50th anniversary, it was premiered by them in Boston conducted bySerge Koussevitzky onNovember 14 ,1930 . This original version was given theopus number 47.Prokofiev extensively revised the symphony in 1947 immediately after completing his Symphony No. 6. Some ideas in the original version were abandoned, while the remaining ones were developed in a more traditional symphonic manner. The
orchestration was also much expanded. Prokofiev considered this to be a new fully-developed symphony rather than a mere revision. This revised version has the opus number 112.Just as the Symphony No. 3 had been based on music from Prokofiev's
opera "The Fiery Angel", the fourth re-uses music from his ballet "The Prodigal Son".Instrumentation
Original version (Op. 47)
Woodwind:
Piccolo :2Flute s:2Oboe s:Cor Anglais :2Clarinet s:Bass Clarinet :2Bassoon s:Contrabassoon Brass:4
French Horn s:3Trumpet s:3Trombone s:Tuba Percussion:
Timpani :Bass Drum :Triangle:Tambourine :cymbal s:Snare Drum :Wood block sStrings:1st and 2nd
Violin s:Viola s:Cello s:Double Bass es)Revised version (Op. 112)
Woodwind:
Piccolo :2Flute s:2Oboe s:Cor Anglais :E-flat Clarinet:2Clarinet s:Bass Clarinet :2Bassoon s:Contrabassoon Brass:4
French Horn s:3Trumpet s:3Trombone s:Tuba Percussion:
Timpani :Bass Drum :Triangle:Tambourine :cymbal s:Snare Drum :Wood block sKeyboard:
Harp :Piano Strings:1st and 2nd
Violin s:Viola s:Cello s:Double Bass esMovements
As is usual for symphonies, the piece is in four movements:
#Andante - Allegro eroico
#Andante tranquillo
#Moderato , quasiallegretto
#Allegro risolutoPerformance time
*Original version (Op. 47): 25 minutes
*Revised version (Op. 112): 40 minutesPremiere
*Original version (Op. 47):
*Revised version (Op. 112):Recordings
Original version (Op. 47)
Revised version (Op. 112)
External links
* [http://www.prokofiev.org/catalog/work.cfm?WorkID=141 Symphony No. 4 (original version) at prokofiev.org]
* [http://www.prokofiev.org/catalog/work.cfm?WorkID=142 Symphony No. 4 (revised version) at prokofiev.org]
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