Symphony No.2 "Querela Pacis" - Antal Doráti

Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Antal Doráti.

I - Peccata Mundi. Sostenuto assai, molto rubato - (attacca): 0:00
II - Dies illa. Allegro molto - (attacca): 9:54
III - Dona nobis. Andante molto tranquillo: 16:45

Doráti's Symphony No.2 was composed between April and August 1985, being commissioned by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. It was premiered on April 24 of 1986, performed by Detroit Symphony Orchestra conducted by Günther Herbig. Doráti was inspired by the 1517 book "The Quarrel of Peace" (Querela Pacis) of Erasmus of Rotterdam.

In said book, Erasmus has the personification of peace come to earth to deliver her verdict on the human race. She chastises kings and princes, church leaders, noblemen and ordinary soldiers alike for betraying their Christian values by waging unjust and unnecessary wars. However, the work is not programmatic in nature, instead wanting to express the struggle for peace in a context dominated by the looming threat of a nuclear disaster in the Cold War.

The first movement begins with a bitterly melancholic theme on strings, before the brass enters with a vengeful second theme, answered by the main one. A nervous and dissonant third theme appears, which begins a dramatic allegro that transforms these materials with great wrath and bitterness. A calm and colourful passage appears with a flute solo, bringing great contrast. The strings take it in a passionate climax. Menacing brass calls lead us to an enigmatic section dominated by bass instruments, leading directly into the next part.

The second movement opens with menacing rhythmic figures, over which several motives and themes are gradually built from previous material. The music turns more energetic and violent, rising in peaks of extreme dissonance and strife, supported by an underlying percussion. A climax of great dissonance in the middle section, followed by a more restrained, if still ominous, passage. Another violent climax is soon reached, before the music calms down as it leads us to the final part.

The third movement begins with the song of peace, slowly introduced as if it was far away. It is transformed as every instrument takes it, before the brass introduces a more active second theme, derived from material from previous movements. The momentum halts as a pastoral passage brings calmness and peace. An enigmatic moment begins as an off-stage string quartet begins playing far away, perhaps representing the desired final peace. A dissonant climax reminds us of the previous struggles, before the music turns much more tonal in a brilliant climax. Finally, a triumphal chords dissolves in an ethereal diminuendo.

Picture: "Men and Mountains" (1909) by the American painter Kent Rockwell.

Musical analysis written by myself. Source: https://rb.gy/m6n1j

Unfortunately, the score is not available.