Salomon past concerts

7:30pm Tuesday 22^nd June 2004 at St John's Smith Square, SW1

Conductor Philip Ellis

Stravinsky Symphony in 3 movements

Bruckner Symphony No. 7 in E Major

Stravinsky described his Symphony in 3 movements, composed 1942-1945, as his war symphony. The first movement was inspired by a film of scorched-earth policies in China, and the third has the German war machine marching into a stagnating fugue followed by the the rise of the allies. Stravinsky said music for the contrasting peaceful second movement was derived from film music he was preparing for The Song of Bernadette (commercial reasons prevented the project completing).

Bruckner introduced Wagner tubas into his magnificent 7th Symphony, adding a wonderful richness to the orchestral colour, which then remained and essential part of his scoring for his last 2 symphonies. His idol Richard Wagner died as the slow movement was nearing completion, and the coda has the tubas leading the lament.

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Orchestration