| The Dream of Jacob | |
|---|---|
| Orchestral music by Krzysztof Penderecki | |
 Krzysztof Penderecki (the composer) in 2008 | |
| Native name | Als Jakob erwachte |
| Key | C |
| Composed | 1974 |
| Dedication | Prince Rainier III |
| Performed | 14 August 1974: Monte Carlo |
| Publisher | |
| Duration | 7 to 8 min. |
| Scoring | Orchestra |
The Dream of Jacob, also referred to as The Awakening of Jacob [1] [2] (Polish : Przebudzenie Jakuba), is a composition by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki. It is scored for large orchestra and was finished in 1974.
The work's original German title, Als Jakob erwachte aus dem Schlaf, sah er, daß Gott dagewesen war. Er hat es aber nicht gemerkt ("When Jacob woke from his sleep, he saw that God had been there. He had not known it."), [1] [3] is extracted from the Bible and can be found in Genesis28:16. The work was commissioned for the Silver Jubilee of Prince Rainier III of Monaco, to whom it is dedicated, and was first performed in Monte Carlo on 14 August 1974, by the Orchestre National de l'Opéra de Monte-Carlo under Stanislaw Skrowaczewski. [4] [5] It was eventually published by the Polish Music Publishing House and Schott Music. [2] [6]
The composition is scored for three flutes, three oboes, three B clarinets, three bassoons (all 12 woodwind players also double on ocarinas), five F horns, three B-flat trumpets, three trombones, one tuba, percussion and a large string section. [6] The composition is loosely based on the Bible passage mentioned above, therefore trying to resemble being in the desert on a ladder to heaven, while the angels are ascending and descending. [1]
The composition is in one movement and takes approximately 7 minutes to perform. The score is notated in C. [6] This composition is still one of the most performed in its repertoire and also the composition with which Penderecki introduced his neo-Romantic style, which he further developed in his following works, [5] moving away from the style he had been using for the previous 15 years, which included the composition of his first symphony. [7]
The composition received initially mostly positive reviews from Polish and European critics. [2] In the Polish literary magazine Kultura Paryska, the composition is praised for the elimination of "aggressive sound effects and terseness of form" in favor of a more refined style. [8] German music critic Detlef Gojowy described the compositions as bearing strong influences of Richard Wagner and Dmitri Shostakovich. [9] Andrew Porter, from The New Yorker , was also struck by the composer's exquisite use of the twelve ocarinas. [10] However, Polish magazine Ruch muzyczny stated that The Dream of Jacob did not "fulfill the emotional expectations of the German audience”, but the logic and clarity used in its composition was heartily welcomed. [11] Bernard Holland, from the New York Times , highlighted that the Kraków Philharmonic's performances were reviewed favourably, but also noted that the people "would eventually tire of the riveting sounds in his works and begin to wonder why its musical ideas do not flow together more effectively". [12] Penderecki was also criticized by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra for the difficulty of the notation. [13] and June Schneider, from Music and Musicians, questioned if the composer "is able to provide anything other than superficial sound manipulations". [14]
The Dream of Jacob has been featured in other audiovisual material. The following is a list of the movies and video games in which the composition is featured:
Following are some of well-known recordings of this piece:
| Orchestra | Conductor | Record company | Year of recording | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra | Krzysztof Penderecki | EMI | 1974 | LP and CD [2] [20] |
| St. Olaf Orchestra | Krzysztof Penderecki | WCAL | 1977 | LP [2] |
| Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra | Jacek Kasprzyk | Supraphon | 1980 | LP [2] [21] |
| Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra | Jacek Kasprzyk | Polskie Nagrania Muza | 1980 | LP [2] |
| RAI National Symphony Orchestra | Krzysztof Penderecki | Fonit Cetra | 1982 | LP [2] |
| MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra | Herbert Kegel | VEB Deutsche Schallplatten Berlin/Berlin Classics | 1984 | CD [22] |
| New England Conservatory Symphony Orchestra | Piero Bellugi | New England Conservatory Performances | 1985 | Cassette [2] |
| Polish Radio National Symphony Orchestra | Antoni Wit | Polskie Nagrania Muza | 1987 | LP [2] [23] |
| Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra | Krzysztof Penderecki | Chandos | 1995 | CD [24] |
| Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra | Antoni Wit | Naxos | 2008 | CD [25] |
Krzysztof Eugeniusz Penderecki was a Polish composer and conductor. His best-known works include Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima, Symphony No. 3, his St Luke Passion, Polish Requiem, Anaklasis and Utrenja. His oeuvre includes four operas, eight symphonies and other orchestral pieces, a variety of instrumental concertos, choral settings of mainly religious texts, as well as chamber and instrumental works.
Antoni Wit is a Polish conductor, composer, lawyer and professor at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music. Between 2002 and 2013, he served as the artistic director of the National Philharmonic in Warsaw.
Polish Requiem, also A Polish Requiem, is a large-scale requiem mass for soloists, mixed choir and orchestra by the Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki. The Lacrimosa, dedicated to the trade union leader Lech Wałęsa, was written for the unveiling of a statue at the Gdańsk Shipyard to commemorate those killed in the Polish anti-government riots in 1970. He expanded the work into a requiem, writing other parts to honour different patriotic events over the next four years.
The Symphony No. 3 is a symphony in five movements composed between 1988 and 1995 by Krzysztof Penderecki. It was commissioned and completed for the centenary of the Munich Philharmonic. Its earliest version, Passacaglia and Rondo, premiered at the International Music Festival Week in Lucerne, Switzerland, on August 20, 1988. It was performed by the Lucerne Festival Orchestra and conducted by Penderecki. The full symphony premiered in Munich on 8 December 1995, performed by the Munich Philharmonic, again conducted by the composer.
Krzysztof Penderecki wrote his Seventh Symphony, subtitled "Seven Gates of Jerusalem", in 1996 to commemorate the third millennium of the city of Jerusalem. Originally conceived as an oratorio, this choral symphony was premièred in Jerusalem in January 1997; it was only after the first Polish performance two months later that Penderecki decided to call it a symphony. It is written for two sopranos, alto, tenor, bass, narrator, chorus and orchestra.
Anaklasis is a composition for 42 string instruments and percussion, composed in 1960 by the Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki. It was first performed at the Donaueschingen Festival in 1960. At this first performance, it was well received by the audience who demanded an encore.
Utrenja, alternatively spelled as Utrenia, Utrenya, or Jutrznia, and sometimes also translated as Matins, is a set of two liturgical compositions by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki. They were composed and premiered in 1970 and 1971.
CD Accord Music Edition is a Polish classical music label, based in Warsaw and founded in 1995.
Tatjana Vassiljeva is a Russian cellist with many prizes.
The Partita for Harpsichord and Orchestra, sometimes also referred to as Partita for Harpsichord, Electric Guitar, Bass Guitar, Harp, Double Bass, and Chamber Orchestra or Harpsichord Concerto, is a composition by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki. It was finished in 1971 and is Penderecki's only major composition for a harpsichord soloist.
The Symphony No. 1 by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki was composed in 1973. It was published by Polish Music Publishing House and Schott Music and has never been expanded or revised.
Fonogrammi, for flute and chamber orchestra, is a composition by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki. It was finished in 1961 and was published by Schott Music, even though it remained initially unpublished.
The Capriccio for Violin and Orchestra is a composition by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki. It is one of the five caprices that he composed and one of the two that he composed for a soloist with an orchestra, together with the Capriccio for Oboe and Eleven Instruments.
Canticum Canticorum Salomonis is a choral composition by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki. It was finished in 1973.
Emanations, also referred to by its original German title Emanationen or by its Polish title Emanacje, is a composition for two orchestras by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki. Composed in 1958, it is one of his early compositions.
The Clarinet Quartet, also known as Quartet for Clarinet and String Trio, is a work for clarinet, violin, viola, and cello by Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki. It was finished in 1993.
Penderecki's setting of the biblical canticle Magnificat was commissioned for the 1200th anniversary of Salzburg Cathedral and premiered there on 17 August 1974 under the composer's baton. It is a vast work, being scored for bass vocal soloist, boys’ voices, seven other men’s voices, two 24-part mixed choirs and orchestra.
Credo is a large-scale sacred composition for soloists, children's choir, mixed choir and orchestra by Krzysztof Penderecki, completed in 1998. It was commissioned by Helmuth Rilling for the Oregon Bach Festival, where it was first performed on 11 July 1998. Penderecki expanded the liturgical text by hymns and Bible verses in Latin, Polish and German. A recording won the 2000 Grammy Award for best choral performance.
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