The season has restarted for the South Liverpool Rehearsal Orchestra (SLRO) so I thought I'd continue to discuss the repertoire as the year progresses. First up is Franz Schubert's Symphony Number 8 in B Minor. My limited knowledge of Music History (A Level Grade C) informs me that this is the 'famous' Unfinished symphony. It's left to Wikipedia to provide further explanation: to summarise no-one really knows why it remained unfinished, despite Schubert living a further six years after the first two movements were written. Of all the reasons suggested (a finale was written but used in his incidental music to Rosamunde and a scherzo does exist but only sketched in Piano form) the theory that seems most realistic is that the form of the symphony was not common for a Viennese composer of his time:One possible reason for Schubert's leaving the symphony incomplete is the predominance of the same meter (three-in-a-bar). The first movement is in 3/4, the second in 3/8 and the third (an incomplete scherzo) also in 3/4.
In terms of my first impressions of the symphony (we've only played it once thus far), I'm primarily glad my part is written in Bb! I've always struggled with transposition and this hasn't changed since starting to play regularly again. I haven't really formed an opinion as of yet and will probably update this post over the course of our rehearsals. This post is primarily a selfish one in that it affords me an opportunity to look into the background of some of the music we play, hopefully in an attempt to enhance my interpretation and own performance. This is something I've decided might be a good idea having heard Alison Balsom's rendition of Haydn's Trumpet Concerto during the Last Night of the Proms. My Grade 6 and 8 recitals weren't quite the same!
I didn't realise you'd dusted off your horn! Very good. I'm also putting mine to use teaching a couple of sessions a week as part of this Wider Opportunities thing I'm involved with. How are the chops?
ReplyDeleteThe chops are OK at best! It was 10 years since I last played in an Orchestra. Wanted to play again but couldn't find much around here. It's a rehearsal orchestra so only a couple of concerts a year and no real pressure. People of all ages, just playing for fun really. Haven't lost the ability to split prominent notes!
ReplyDeleteHow's the teaching going? It must have been an even longer absence for you!