Symphony No. 4 (Milhaud)
Encyclopedia
The Symphony No. 4, op. 281 is a work for orchestra
by French composer Darius Milhaud
. The piece was written in 1947 in response to a request by the French minister of education for a composition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Revolution of 1848
. Milhaud wrote this symphony on board a steamship to France
from the U.S., where he had lived since 1940. This symphony is not to be confused with Milhaud's Chamber Symphony No. 4, op. 74 (1921).
Milhaud's Fourth Symphony has four movements and a total running time of a bit over 28 minutes. The outer movements have a military flavor, dominated by wind instruments and percussion. The descriptive titles of the movements are as follows:
This symphony is published by Editions Salabert. Recordings of this symphony currently available include:
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
by French composer Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud was a French composer and teacher. He was a member of Les Six—also known as The Group of Six—and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His compositions are influenced by jazz and make use of polytonality...
. The piece was written in 1947 in response to a request by the French minister of education for a composition celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Revolution of 1848
French Revolution of 1848
The 1848 Revolution in France was one of a wave of revolutions in 1848 in Europe. In France, the February revolution ended the Orleans monarchy and led to the creation of the French Second Republic. The February Revolution was really the belated second phase of the Revolution of 1830...
. Milhaud wrote this symphony on board a steamship to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
from the U.S., where he had lived since 1940. This symphony is not to be confused with Milhaud's Chamber Symphony No. 4, op. 74 (1921).
Milhaud's Fourth Symphony has four movements and a total running time of a bit over 28 minutes. The outer movements have a military flavor, dominated by wind instruments and percussion. The descriptive titles of the movements are as follows:
- L'insurrection. Animé (approx. 5')
- Aux Morts de la Republique. Lent (approx. 13')
- Le Joies de la Liberté retrouvée. Modérément animé (approx. 4')
- Commémoration 1948. Animé (approx. 7'15")
This symphony is published by Editions Salabert. Recordings of this symphony currently available include:
- a 1947 stereo recording featuring the Orchestre Radio-SymphoniqueOrchestre Philharmonique de Radio FranceThe Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France is a French radio orchestra providing music for Radio France. It specializes in contemporary music and was founded in 1937.- Names of the orchestra :*Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France...
, conducted by the composer himself, and re-released in 2003 on the Apex label - a 1997 all-digital recording by Alun FrancisAlun FrancisAlun Francis is a Welsh conductor.-Professional career:Francis was the principal conductor of the Ulster Orchestra from 1966 for ten years...
and the Radio-Sinfonieorchester BaselSinfonieorchester BaselThe Sinfonieorchester Basel is a Swiss orchestra based in Basel. The orchestra performs symphony concerts at the Musiksaal, Basel. The orchestra also serves as the opera orchestra and ballet orchestra for the Theater Basel...
, part of a boxed set of Milhaud's Symphonies No. 1-12 on CPO