Symphony No.2 - Bohuslav Martinů

BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jiří Bělohlávek

I - Allegro moderato: 0:00
II - Andante moderato: 6:28
III - Poco allegro: 15:06
IV - Allegro: 19:47

The second symphony of Martinů uses part of the material previously composed for his first symphony that he had not used. Due to the success obtained in his previous work he soon decided to write a new symphony. It was begun in the month of June 1943, ending on July 24 of the same year.

It premiered in October 1943 in Cleveland, Ohio, played by The Cleveland Orchestra conducted by Erich Leinsdorf. He dedicated it to his fellow workers in Cleveland, who contributed so much to the production during wartime.

The first movement is relaxed and with a certain pastoral character. The main theme has an air of dance. The second theme is of a calmer and more chromatic nature. Development is dominated by rhythmic forms. The brief recapitulation ends with a quiet coda.

The second movement contains several Czech motifs. The main theme is a slow dance with influences from Dvořák. In the central part the theme reaches its maximum expression and then goes through a fairly static period. The piano notes open the last more dynamic part, ending with the repetition of the main theme on the strings.

The third movement corresponds to the scherzo. It is characterized by its strongly rhythmic themes supported by the percussion. The trio is of a contrasting form. Then the initial rhythm recovers. The trumpets quote a few notes of the Marseillaise hymn to remind us that we are in time of war.

The last movement continues with its dancing character. The second theme has the characteristic air of bohemian music. The syncopated notes give a particularity to the music of Martinů. It ends with a strongly rhythmic section dominated by a great feeling of hope.

Part of the symphony is chamber style, in a way similar to that of the Concerto Grosso that until then had used in many of his works. But its complex syncopated rhythms are a personal contribution of its author.

Picture: "Art and Culture" (2008) by the Brazilian artist Marcos Andruchak.

Sources: http://www.historiadelasinfonia.es/hi...