Countdown to the Concert of Sunday, February 17th - Post #2

Arne - Symphony No. 4 in C minor

The attitude of England toward its own 'home-grown" composers has
been curious...over the course of 200 years (roughly 1700 to 1900),
the Brits have treated their native composers somewhat harshly, preferring
instead to import composers from other countries (Handel, Mendelssohn,
Dvorak, and..of course, Haydn, whom we will hear from later in our
concert).

Thomas Arne was a prolific and popular English composer whose contribution
to his country's own "classical" era was remarkable. He was known primarily as
a composer of stage works, many of which were produced at London's Drury
Lane Theater. His instrumental output is rather small, and his FOUR SYMPHONIES
are dated as a group from 1767.

This in itself is interesting, since Arne's 4th Symphony is a rather surprising work
in that it clearly points ahead some 35 years to the late classical or even the early
Romantic period. It's first movement is rather dark and stormy, with marvelous
contrasts in dynamics and texture.

The middle slow movement is also noteworthy for its austere beauty; during
certain passages, the music seems to "hover" as the gentle voices of flutes
and oboes gradually emerge and form themselves into lovely melodic phrases.
The Finale is light and gracious, and very "sweet" in its sound. And yet, there are
frequent reminders of the somewhat wistful, dark sound of the first movement,
prior to the symphony's vigorous and joyous conclusion.

Was it possible that Arne knew any of Haydn's early symphonies...some of which
are also dark and dramatic? It's not likely, since Haydn's strikingly bold early
scores were brand new when Arne composed his 4th. It's possible that Arne
was a more original and forward-looking composer than he is given credit
for....at least that's the impression created by this wonderful work.

I would guess that Sunday's performance of Arne's 4th Symphony will be
a Chicago-area first; the only performing version available was published in
1973, and I doubt that there's been any particular rush to play it.  So,
as usual, the NSO is providing audiences an opportunity to hear an overlooked
but deserving work brought to life in performance---if only for its
brief "15-minutes" of fame (the approximate length of the symphony).

Thus far, the NSO has performed Arne's 1st and 2nd symphonies, leaving
only #3 for a future date. I love doing the "second-tier" works of this period,
providing that they have something uniquely beautiful about them. Arne's
4th is definitely in that category, and I can assure you that our performance
will be a superbly crafted and extremely committed one--- like everything
else the NSO does.  We approach this work as if it's the greatest piece known
to man.....because for the 15 minutes in which we are performing it, it is.

Thanks for reading; see you Sunday!

Larry