Sergei Prokofiev - Op.112 Symphony No.4 in C major, Second Version (1947) (Score)

Описание: Четвертая симфония C-dur (2-я редакция)/Fourth Symphony in C major (2nd Version)

Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev (Сергей Сергеевич Прокофьев/Sergey Sergeyevich Prokofiev) (1891-1953) was a Russian/Soviet composer, pianist, and conductor. His works range from piano sonatas to operas, and he is regarded as one of the most important composers of the 20th century.

In 1946, the Zhdanovshchina was starting to take effect, and many works and composers were banned. For Prokofiev, many of his works, including the second part of the opera War and Peace, as well as symphonies, the War Sonatas, and more, were banned. In 1947, he was presented with the idea of revising the fourth symphony. Through revising the fourth symphony in a broad socialist realism style of the fifth symphony, Prokofiev believed that it would have great success, as the melodic material had great potential. The final revision was very great, and Prokofiev even assigned a new opus number for this. During the revision, he also finished the sixth symphony, and wrote propaganda pieces.

However, in early 1948, the Union of Soviet Composers banned the entire oeuvre of Prokofiev, and this symphony was not performed until 1957 in the USSR. The premiere was by Adrian Boult with BBC Symphony Orchestra on radio on 11 March 1950. It enjoyed great success and it has been the more popular version in concerts and recordings.

It is scored for Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, English Horn, 2 Clarinets (Bb and A), Bass Clarinet, 2 Bassoons, Contrabassoons, 4 Horns, 2 C Trumpets, 3 Trombones, Tuba, Timpani, Bass Drum, Snare Drum, Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal, and Strings (original version) with Eb clarinet, Trumpet, Piano, Triangle, Tambourine, Wood blocks, and Harp added.

(0:00) Mov.1 Andante - The first movement is now around twice as long as before. The introduction is augmented with a new theme, with increased length.
(2:06) Exposition - The texture is much heavier with piano and harp, with heavier brass texture.
(2:35) Transition. The transition that was around 30 measures is expanded both in length and texture.
(3:43) T2
(4:19) Transition. This part differs greatly from the original (which ends with a flash followed by grand pause)
(4:45) Development. T1, with key change
(5:27) To A major, followed by a transition
(6:07) T2, climax. Also, most of the development is entirely different from the initial version.
(6:29) T1
(6:45) Fugato-like passage
(7:00) Transition (related to T2 maybe?)
(8:00) (Fake recapitulation), T1
(8:18) T2, in full climax
(8:36) Transition
(9:17) Recapitulation, T1
(10:04) Transition
(10:35) T2
(11:39) Coda, T1

(12:28) Mov.2 Andante tranquillo - The length of the second movement is doubled.
(13:03) Main theme
(14:07) Transition
(14:43) B
(15:38) Mysterious section
(16:32) B
(17:05) A, in Eb major
(17:33) To B major
(18:04) And to G major
(18:43) Reminiscence of the introduction theme (of the Op.47, since the introduction section of the 1st movement went through a heavy revision)
(19:52) Transition
(20:25) A, triumphantly
(21:01) The ending is the only part that did not change much. It is still the restrained ending.

(21:36) Mov.3 Moderato, quasi allegretto
(24:09) Trio
(24:41) Scherzo
(25:52) Coda is expanded greatly, but much sombre than the original.

(27:37) Mov.4 Allegro risoluto - The fourth movement starts with a new introduction.
(28:04) T1 and its variants
(29:47) Transition
(30:17) T2 is gone
(31:10) Instead, we get a new section, which starts with a chorale
(31:20) Playful mood. This proceeds rather freely, but maintaining the march-like texture.
(33:04) Chorale - which ends the section rather suddenly
(33:17) Development from the original version
(34:55) Instead of recapitulation, a coda follows, as the second theme is deleted. This is an entirely new material, dance-like.
(36:26) The introductory material in a triumphant mood. I mean, I think it feels quite feigned (something like Shostakovich’s 5th, like artificial), but anyway, it is a triumphant finish.

Source: English/Russian Wikipedia, original research

Recording by Ukraine National Symphony Orchestra, Theodore Kuchar

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