Symphony No.5 in D major - Nikolai Myaskovsky

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sir Edward Downes.

I - Allegretto amabile - L'istesso tempo, e poco pesante - Pesante, in tempo principale - Tempo I - Animando (Allegro tenebroso e con anima) - Molto più mosso - Pesante molto - Largamente ed espressivo - Tempo del comincio- Poco meno mosso: 0:00
II - Lento (Quasi andante) - Andante - Tenebroso - Con agitazione - In tempo - Più agitato - Molto elevato - Andante (come prima): 11:15
III - Allegro burlando: 22:18
IV - Allegro risoluto e con brio - Più mosso - Tempo I - Molto largamente - Con forza. Maestoso ed expressivo: 26:24

Myaskvovsky's Symphony No.5 was composed between December 1917 and late 1919, along with No.4. It was premiered in Moscow on August 18 of 1920 with an outstanding success, directed by Nikolai Malko. After its triumphant premiere, it was presented in Madrid, Prague, Vienna, Chicago and Philadelphia. In New York, Stokowski conducted it with great success among the public. The work was dedicated to the critic and musicologist Viktor Mikhaylovich Belyayev, a fellow student of the composer at the St. Petersburg Conservatory.

Myaskovsky saw the piece as a reaction against the pessimism of the previous four symphonies. He recalled: "The majority of the themes occurred to me during the war in the most varied circumstances, which were mostly peaceful enough, although in the zone of the front. The opening theme of the first movement came to me in a fir wood near the fort of Przemyśl in 1915. The themes of the scherzo originated near Dvinsk in 1916, while the themes of the finale came to me in urban surroundings in 1917, while I was at Revel". The two symphonies (No.4 and 5) were considered in Russia to be the birth of Soviet symphony.

The first movement is structured in sonata form. It opens with a peaceful, pastoral main theme presented by the clarinet, expressively taken by the orchestra. The second theme, in contrast, is solemn and reminiscent of the old Russian chants. It rises in a grand climax of great expression. The main theme is then richly recapitulated by the woodwinds. Follows a tense and nervous development section until a massive climax is reached with the second theme, thus beginning an inverted recapitulation. The main theme is lyrically recapitulated. A warm coda, despite its hints of doubt, ends the movement.

The second movement is structured in ternary form. It begins with haunting tremolos of the strings. The clarinet presents a lullaby-like main theme, lyrically exposed despite some worried hints. The central parts opens with a tense and distressed theme, slowly unfolded by the woodwinds. The two themes are contrapuntally combined, growing more and more dissonant and desperate. The music culminates in a massive climax full of pain. The strings then calmly recapitulate the main theme. A slightly hopeful coda ends the movement.

The third movement is a very concise scherzo in ternary form. It opens with fast lines from cellos and double basses, followed by a rhythmic main theme of traditional Russian flavour. The brief trio begins with a Ukrainian Koliadka presented by the clarinet, a Christmas carol that is said to bring good luck and success when sung at Christmas in Ukraine. Myaskovsky picked it up during the time he spent on the Austrian front in Galitzia, near Lviv. The scherzo is then resumed, followed by the trio. A small but cute coda ends the movement.

The fourth movement is structured in sonata form. It begins with a vigorous and impetuous main theme, full of Russian flavour. It is contrasted by a more solemn and melodic second theme, leading to an imposing climax. Follows an urgent development in which these materials are combined in rich and varied ways. The recapitulation begins with the two themes. Suddenly and out of nowhere, the solemn second theme from the first movement reappears in a massive climax in form of a hymn, which leads us to a victorious coda of great brilliance.

Picture: A photograph of the red square by night, Moscow.

Musical analysis partially written by myself. Sources: https://bit.ly/3jNocVy and https://bit.ly/3EiQrF8

To check the score: https://bit.ly/3D0CY6a