Symphony No. 3 (Ives)

The Symphony No. 3, S. 3 (K. 1A3), "The Camp Meeting" by Charles Ives (1874 – 1954) was written between the years of 1908 and 1910. In 1947, Ives was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his Symphony No. 3. Later, his works were performed by conductors like Leonard Bernstein. Ives is reported to have given half the money to Lou Harrison, who conducted the premiere.

tructure

The symphony is in three movements:

#Old Folks Gatherin' - Andante maestoso
#Children's Day - Allegro
#Communion - Largo

This symphony is notable for usage of a chamber orchestra, rather than a full-blown orchestra Ives used for his other symphonies. The symphony is also very short, only lasting approximately twenty minutes.

Instrumentation

The symphony is scored for a chamber orchesta of a flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, two horns, trombone, bells, and strings (violins, violas, cellos, and double basses).

Composition

The symphony has many influences including War songs, dances, and general European classical music. It evokes country meetings during his childhood, when people gathered in fields to sing, preach, and listen. Ives was sentimentally nostalgic, glancing back as a modern composer at a nineteenth-century childhood of hymns, bells, and children's games throughout the three movements. The symphony is filled with complex harmonies and meters.

Premiere

Lou Harrison, a great fan of Ives' music, premiered this symphony in 1946.