ROUSSELl: Symphony No. 1, Résurrection - Symphonic Prelude, Le marchand de sable qui passe

Royal Scottish National Orchestra;
Deneve, Stephane

8.570323

The First Symphony took shape during 1904–06 and was first heard complete in Brussels on 22 March 1908, Sylvain Dupuis conducting. Despite the subtitle, Poem of the Forest, this is no programmatic work; rather its four movements portray a seasonal course following the order Winter-Spring-Summer-Autumn. An amalgam between the often descriptive manner of Debussy and ‘cyclical’ formal procedures espoused by Roussel’s teacher d’Indy is evident throughout the piece.

The Forest in Winter emerges out of a gentle haze on woodwind and strings, bassoon, flute and clarinet tentatively stating a melodic phrase against undulating figuration on strings. It is left to the oboe to unfold the actual melody, after which an increase in activity leads to a climax with the theme taken up by strings. Tension quickly subsides, and the horn sounds out musingly as the movement draws to its close. Without pause, Renewal starts with animated activity on woodwind and strings, the lower strings unfolding a rhapsodic theme complemented by a whimsical idea on flute and harp. The main theme is taken by strings as a whole, the orchestration becoming more varied as the activity increases. Brass and percussion bring about an energetic climax, before the flute and harp idea sees the movement to its conclusion with a crescendo followed by a last surge of activity.

CD

Muzyka klasyczna

Naxos

16-11-2009

747313032372

ClassicsToday.com: 'International Concensus' (2011)