Symphony No.5 in E major ''Lenore'' - Joachim Raff

Orchestre de la Suisse Romande conducted by Neeme Järvi.

First part. Joy of Love
I - Allegro: 0:00
II - Andante quasi larghetto: 10:32

Second part. Separation
III - March. Agitato: 18:38

Third part. Reunion in Death
IV - Introduction & ballade. Allegro - Un poco più mosso (quasi stretto): 27:53

Raff's Symphony No.5 was conceived between 1870-1, during the Franco-Prussian war. It was finished in the Summer of 1872, being premiered privately on December 13 of that year in Sondershausen, performed by the Court Chapel conducted by the own composer. The following year's performance in Berlin was very successful, quickly making the work the most popular of Raff. The symphony is programmatic in nature, based on Gottfried August Bürger’s "Lenore", a famous ballad written in 1773.

The poem narrates how Lenore impatiently waits for her fiancé Wilhelm to return from the Seven Years' War, longing for his return. When the war is over and he doesn't reappear, she begins to quarrel with God, proclaiming that He has never done her any good. One day at midnight, a mysterious knight who looks like Wilhelm knocks on the door, asking Lenore to accompany him on horseback to their marriage bed. She happily accepts and the two ride at a frenetic pace under the moonlight, along a path with eerie landscapes. At sunrise they arrive at a cemetery. The knight is revealed to be Death. The marriage bed is shown to be the grave where Wilhelm's skeleton lies. The ground beneath Lenore's feet crumbles and the spirits surround dying Lenore, declaring that "no one is to quarrel with God in Heaven". However, Lenore, punished with death, still has hope for forgiveness.

The first movement represents the love of the couple before the war, being structured in sonata form. It opens with a passionate and energetic main theme, contrasted by a more lyrical but melancholic second one, like a bad omen of the future. An intense climax is reached, leading us to the development section. As the main theme reappears, a powerful climax is reached, followed by the sombre second one. After a new grand climax, the recapitulation brings back the main theme, leading us to a brilliant coda.

The second movement represents the feelings of Lenore in a more intimate manner, being structured in ternary form. It begins with a deeply lyrical main theme, introduced by cellos and fleshed out by woodwinds and strings. The music culminates in an expressive climax. The middle section opens with a turbulent second theme on cellos, full of a tragic tone. After a brief transition, the main theme is recapitulated by cellos. A pastoral coda of wood over strings ends the movement peacefully.

The third movement represents Wilhelm going off to war, being a scherzo in ternary form. A march rhythm is softly introduced, gradually growing into a martial and bellicose main theme, which is transformed in continuous variations. More instruments are added until the music culminates in a powerful climax. The trio presents a passionate and nervous second theme on strings, representing Lenore's sorrows from the separation. The scherzo is then triumphally resumed, gradually going piano until dissolving in the silence.

The fourth movement represents Lenore's grief as she realizes that her lover will not be returning, being very free in form. It opens with an ominous introduction, followed by the appearance of themes and motives from previous movements, presented in a twisted manner. A rhythmic motive in form of a moto perpetuo represents the hellish ride through the sky. The themes and motives are extensively developed like in a symphonic poem, culminating a dissonant climax. The music stops as the couple arrive to the grave. A solemn chorale of Wagnerian echoes appear on strings, growing more brilliantly as, despite everything, the couple has been reunited. A bright coda ends the work.

Picture: "A knight bids farewell to a young lady" (1796) Engraving by Harding after Lady Diana Beauclerk.

Musical analysis written by myself. Sources: https://bit.ly/3GsV1lL and https://bit.ly/3izQZzU

To check the score: https://bit.ly/3Qwa6Y8