Symphony No. 7 (Piston)

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The Symphony No. 7 by Walter Piston is a symphony dating from 1960.

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History

Piston's Seventh Symphony was commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, and was premiered by that orchestra, conducted by Eugene Ormandy, on February 10, 1961. The symphony was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1961, which was the second time for Piston—his first was in 1948 for his Third Symphony. [1] It bears some resemblance to Piston's Three New England Sketches , composed in 1959, and for this reason as well as for parallels of structure has been compared to Beethoven's Pastorale Symphony. [2]

Analysis

The work is in three movements:

  1. Con moto
  2. Adagio pastorale
  3. Allegro festevole

When Piston was composing his Seventh Symphony, he took into account the particular sonic character of the Philadelphia Orchestra's rich string timbres, as well as the acoustics of the Philadelphia Academy of Music where it was to be premiered. [3]

The first movement begins with a large, soaring theme, featuring a propulsive rhythm in fast triple meter. The minor mode, forceful rhythms, and cumulative contrapuntal density in both the exposition and recapitulation lend this movement a vehemently passionate character. The second movement, Adagio pastorale, similarly is dominated by serious but not solemn broad melodies. The finale, as in Piston's other symphonies, is sunny and brilliant, including a passage of syncopated wind melodies accompanied by pianissimo percussion, and pizzicato strings, which recalls the scherzo of Piston's Sixth Symphony. [4]

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The Symphony No. 2, by Walter Piston is a symphony composed in 1943.

The Symphony No. 6 by Walter Piston was completed in 1955.

The Symphony No. 5 by Walter Piston was composed in 1954.

The Symphony No. 8 by Walter Piston is a symphony dating from 1965.

The Symphony No. 3 by Walter Piston was composed in 1946–47.

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Three New England Sketches by Walter Piston is a symphonic suite dating from 1959.

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The Sonatina for Violin and Harpsichord is a three-movement, neoclassical chamber work composed by Walter Piston in 1945, that marks the beginning of his postwar style.

String Quartet No. 2 by Walter Piston is a chamber-music work composed in 1935.

String Quartet No. 4 by Walter Piston is a chamber-music work composed in 1951.

The Concerto for Viola and Orchestra is a viola concerto by the American composer John Harbison. The work was commissioned by the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra with contributions from Meet The Composer and Reader's Digest. It was first performed by Jaime Laredo and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Hugh Wolff on May 18, 1990.

The Concerto for Viola and Orchestra is a musical composition for viola and orchestra by the American composer Walter Piston. The work was written in 1957 for the violist Joseph de Pasquale, who first performed the piece with the Boston Symphony Orchestra on March 7, 1958.

References

  1. ↑ Archibald 1978, 266–267.
  2. ↑ Pollack 1982, 133.
  3. ↑ Archibald 1978, 267.
  4. ↑ Archibald 1978, 266.

Sources

Further reading

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