Composer

:

Lou Harrison

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Orchestral

Compose Date

:

1948

First Performance

:

Mar 15, 1949

Average_duration

:

11:11

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Lou Harrison's 'Suite No. 2 for String Orchestra' is a four-movement work that was composed in 1949. The piece was premiered in San Francisco in the same year by the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Pierre Monteux. The first movement, titled 'Estampie', is a lively and rhythmic dance that is based on a medieval dance form. The movement features a driving rhythm and a lively melody that is passed between the different sections of the orchestra. The second movement, 'Elegy', is a slow and mournful piece that features a haunting melody played by the violins. The movement is characterized by its use of dissonant harmonies and its somber mood. The third movement, 'Round Dance', is a lively and energetic dance that is based on a traditional English folk dance. The movement features a lively melody that is passed between the different sections of the orchestra, and it is characterized by its use of syncopated rhythms and its playful mood. The final movement, 'Air', is a slow and lyrical piece that features a beautiful melody played by the violins. The movement is characterized by its use of lush harmonies and its serene mood. Overall, Lou Harrison's 'Suite No. 2 for String Orchestra' is a beautiful and engaging work that showcases the composer's skill at writing for string orchestra. The piece is characterized by its use of traditional dance forms and its lush harmonies, and it is a testament to Harrison's ability to create music that is both accessible and sophisticated.

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