Download Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) Violin Concerto No

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953)
Symphony No 7 in C-sharp minor (1951-1952)
Prokofiev grew up in rural Ukraine, where his father was overseer of a large estate. His mother
was a serious amateur pianist and his first teacher. His childhood love of animals and mythology was
reflected in such later compositions as the Ugly Duckling, Love for Three Oranges, Cinderella, and
Peter and the Wolf. He was already a promising, composer-pianist when he entered St. Petersburg
Conservatory at the age of 14 and during ten student years produced two piano concertos, ballet,
opera, orchestral and other vocal and instrumental works.
In 1918, during the civil war which followed the October Russian Revolution, Prokofiev left for
the United States, a four-month journey via Siberia, Japan, and Honolulu. During the trip he sketched
the libretto for his opera Love for Three Oranges, whose music was commissioned by the Chicago
Opera and eagerly awaited by citrus growers of Florida and California, who competed vigorously for
promotion rights.
He returned to Europe in 1920 to continue what he called his "nomadic concertizing existence,"
living first in Bavaria, then in Paris from 1923-35 where he was prominent in the large Parisian
emigré community. He was "drawn irresistibly" to his native country, however, and returned to
Russia in 1936, explaining that he "cared nothing for politics – I'm a composer first and last. Any
government that lets me write my music in peace … is all right with me." But these were the
turbulent Stalin years of purges, denunciation, prison camps, and the subjugation of art to the
political standards of 'socialist realism.' During World War II, Prokofiev was evacuated to the
Caucasus, Tbilisi and Kazakhstan as an important national resource. Nevertheless, he and
Shostakovich were both denounced by the government in 1948 for "formalistic perversions and
antidemocratic tendencies alien to the Soviet people and its artistic tastes." That same year his wife
Lina was arrested and imprisoned for eight years in a Siberian labor camp. Ironically, Prokofiev died
on the same day as Stalin, and his death was overshadowed by that event.
His 131 compositions include seven symphonies and other orchestral works, eight operas, seven
ballets, film scores, piano and chamber works, eight concertos, and the ever popular Peter and the
Wolf for children. Prokofiev described his evolution as a composer in five directions: (1) classical
and neoclassical [as in the Classical Symphony]; (2) innovative in harmony, melody and
orchestration; (3) element of toccata, or 'motor', with repetitive intensity of melodic figures;
(4) lyrical; and (5) what has been called the 'grotesque' because of melodic distortion and unexpected
harmonies. He preferred the term "Scherzoish mood, that is to say, mocking, whimsical and witty."
Symphony No. 7 was Prokofiev's last symphony. Sensitive to official suspicion of "elitist"
symphonies, and to please Soviet apparatchiks, he presented it as a simple piece for Soviet Youth.
I. Moderato. The opening lyrical theme by violins is followed by a second theme by bassoons
and horns, joined by English horn and other winds. In an abrupt change of mood, a contrasting lighthearted third theme is introduced by winds and glockenspiel, becoming more serious during
development. All three motives are heard before a peaceful close.
II. Allegretto. This waltz-like scherzo is intermittently relaxed and agitated, with frequent
expressive solos and a stirring finale.
III. Andante espressivo. The pensive opening theme by strings and harp has several variations
and many instrumental solos. After a brief return of the theme, the movement has a characteristic
Prokofiev "whimsical" ending.
IV. Vivace. The movement opens in a playful, almost circus-like spirit. The original ending was
in a thoughtful mood, but Prokofiev added a brief triumphant version of principal theme to be more
acceptably heroic, a coda he is said to have wished suppressed after his death.
― Richard Porter
References
Bagar & Biancolli. Concert Companion, McGraw-Hill, NY 1947 (RP)
Biancolli, Louis. Masters of the Orchestra, Putnam, NY 1954 (HMA BC.B47)
Ewen, David. Book of Modern Composers, Knopf, NY 1961 (Concord 780.922.E)
Hanson, Lawrence & Elizabeth. Prokofiev, Random House, NY 1964 (Newton 780.P94.)
Nestyev, Israel. Prokofiev, Stanford 1960 (HMA B. P94)
Robinson, Harlow. Sergei Prokofiev, Viking, NY 1987 (Concord 780.92 P)
Schwartz, Boris. Music in Soviet Russia, Barrie & Jenkins 1972 (Concord 780.947S