Composer

:

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Genre

:

Symphony

Style

:

Symphony

Compose Date

:

1949 - 1952

Average_duration

:

42:58

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

Ralph Vaughan Williams composed his Symphony No. 7, also known as Sinfonia Antartica, between 1949 and 1952. The symphony was inspired by the composer's experience of watching the film Scott of the Antarctic, which tells the story of Robert Falcon Scott's ill-fated expedition to the South Pole. The symphony premiered on January 14, 1953, at the Royal Festival Hall in London, conducted by the composer himself. The symphony is divided into five movements, each of which is characterized by its own unique sound world. The first movement, titled Prelude, begins with a hauntingly beautiful melody played by the solo cor anglais, which is then taken up by the strings. The movement builds to a climax before subsiding into a quiet, reflective coda. The second movement, Scherzo, is a lively and energetic dance that features a prominent role for the percussion section. The movement is marked by its driving rhythms and playful melodies, which are passed around the orchestra. The third movement, Landscape, is a slow and contemplative piece that evokes the vast, icy landscapes of the Antarctic. The movement features a solo soprano, who sings a wordless melody that is meant to represent the voice of the wind. The fourth movement, Intermezzo, is a brief and delicate piece that serves as a bridge between the third and fifth movements. The movement features a solo clarinet, which is accompanied by the strings. The final movement, Epilogue, is a grand and majestic piece that brings the symphony to a triumphant close. The movement features a chorus, which sings a setting of Tennyson's poem "The Silent Voices of the Earth." The movement builds to a powerful climax before subsiding into a quiet, reflective coda. Overall, Sinfonia Antartica is a powerful and evocative work that showcases Vaughan Williams' mastery of orchestration and his ability to create vivid musical landscapes. The symphony is notable for its use of unusual instruments, such as the ondes Martenot and the wind machine, which add to the otherworldly atmosphere of the music.

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