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Symphony 8
Naxos

Symphony 8

$19.99

Details

Composer
DIAMOND
Artist
Gerard, S, Erich, Schwarz, Parce
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
May 01, 2004
Catalog #
8559156
UPC
636943915622

About

Diamond dedicated his Symphony No. 8 to his friend and mentor, composer Aaron Copland on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday. The work was completed in November 1960 and received it's première with Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic on 27th October, 1961. While essentially tonal in harmonic language, Diamond incorporated highly chromatic elements and even a twelve-note tone row, not unlike what the Symphony's dedicatee was doing during this same period in his Connotations, though Diamond's work is far less aggressively dissonant in overall sound. The composer provided these notes for the première performance: I. Moderato-Adagio-Allegro vivo. The basic row is proclaimed in the very opening bars of the introduction; it is in two halves. The first, a forceful rhythmic theme of five notes (4/4), is thundered out by the orchestra tutti. The second, a more lyric theme of seven notes (3/4), is sung softly by a single clarinet. Thematically, the second phrase is destined to be the more important; in fact, the row is immediately rearranged and presented by a solo horn, which starts with this second phrase in an even more lyric version, and concludes with a lyric transformation of the thundering five-note opening. The fast body of the movement, a free sonata-allegro structure, starts with a heavily syncopated version of the row as presented by the French horn. This is the principal theme; a contrasting second theme is presented at a more relaxed tempo by a solo clarinet, ben cantando, over a soft counterpart of strings. Both themes are developed, and return in very nearly their original form during the course of this long but highly concentrated movement. The conclusion is a stunning climax compounded of the essence of both themes. II. Theme (Adagio), Variations and Double Fugue. After a two-measure introduction, which turns into a sequential accompaniment, the first violins begin a high, flowing melody that is the theme (3/4). Soon the orchestral basses and cellos enter with this same melody, while the violins continue the forty-measure theme. Variation No. 1 is a canon, in which the violins lead and cellos follow with the same melody, always at a distance of one measure. There are seven variations in all, the last of which repeats a long section from No. 1, and then leads without pause into the lively double-fugue. The first principal theme of this is derived from the principal theme of the first movement. Other themes from the first movement make their appearance, too, as the Symphony moves on to it's climax and conclusion.

Tracklist 15 tracks

  1. 1 Fanfare 01:01
    Track
    1
    Title
    Fanfare
    Duration
    01:01
    Composer
    David Diamond
  2. 2 Prelude to Episode I 02:18
    Track
    2
    Title
    Prelude to Episode I
    Duration
    02:18
    Composer
    David Diamond
  3. 3 Introduction and Dance of the Benevolent Master & Mistress 02:14
    Track
    3
    Title
    Introduction and Dance of the Benevolent Master & Mistress
    Duration
    02:14
    Composer
    David Diamond
  4. 4 Eliza's Supplication 00:58
    Track
    4
    Title
    Eliza's Supplication
    Duration
    00:58
    Composer
    David Diamond
  5. 5 The Mortgage 01:04
    Track
    5
    Title
    The Mortgage
    Duration
    01:04
    Composer
    David Diamond
  6. 6 Dance of the Slavetraders and Human Bloodhounds 01:09
    Track
    6
    Title
    Dance of the Slavetraders and Human Bloodhounds
    Duration
    01:09
    Composer
    David Diamond
  7. 7 Dance of Thankfulness for Freedom 03:40
    Track
    7
    Title
    Dance of Thankfulness for Freedom
    Duration
    03:40
    Composer
    David Diamond
  8. 8 Dance of New England and New Orleans 02:21
    Track
    8
    Title
    Dance of New England and New Orleans
    Duration
    02:21
    Composer
    David Diamond
  9. 9 Entrance of Eva 02:20
    Track
    9
    Title
    Entrance of Eva
    Duration
    02:20
    Composer
    David Diamond
  10. 10 Tom's Dance of Revelation Through the Eternal Word 01:26
    Track
    10
    Title
    Tom's Dance of Revelation Through the Eternal Word
    Duration
    01:26
    Composer
    David Diamond
  11. 11 Music Accompanying Eva's Departure and Ascent into Heaven Accompanied by Angels 02:54
    Track
    11
    Title
    Music Accompanying Eva's Departure and Ascent into Heaven Accompanied by Angels
    Duration
    02:54
    Composer
    David Diamond
  12. 12 Choral Spiritual - Conclusion 01:46
    Track
    12
    Title
    Choral Spiritual - Conclusion
    Duration
    01:46
    Composer
    David Diamond
  13. 13 This Sacred Ground 15:30
    Track
    13
    Title
    This Sacred Ground
    Duration
    15:30
    Composer
    David Diamond
  14. 14 Moderato - Adagio - Allegro vivo 13:24
    Track
    14
    Title
    Moderato - Adagio - Allegro vivo
    Duration
    13:24
    Composer
    David Diamond
  15. 15 Theme (Adagio), Variations and Double Fugue 16:49
    Track
    15
    Title
    Theme (Adagio), Variations and Double Fugue
    Duration
    16:49
    Composer
    David Diamond