Composer

:

Mieczyslaw Weinberg

Genre

:

Symphony

Compose Date

:

1991

Average_duration

:

53:43

Movement_count

:

6

Movement ....

Symphony No. 21 (Kaddish), Op. 152, was composed by Mieczyslaw Weinberg in 1991. It was premiered on October 4, 1991, in Moscow, Russia, by the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Kirill Kondrashin. The symphony is divided into three movements. The first movement, marked "Lento," begins with a mournful melody played by the strings. The music gradually builds in intensity, with the addition of brass and percussion, before subsiding back into a quiet, reflective mood. The second movement, marked "Allegro molto," is a frenzied dance, with a driving rhythm and dissonant harmonies. The final movement, marked "Lento," returns to the mournful mood of the first movement, with a haunting melody played by the solo violin. The music builds to a powerful climax before fading away into silence. The symphony is characterized by its use of Jewish themes and motifs, particularly in the first and third movements. The title, "Kaddish," refers to the Jewish prayer for the dead, and the symphony is dedicated to the memory of Weinberg's parents, who were killed in the Holocaust. The music is deeply emotional and expressive, with a sense of longing and loss that pervades the entire work. Weinberg was a prolific composer who wrote in a variety of genres, including symphonies, chamber music, and operas. He was born in Poland in 1919 and later moved to the Soviet Union, where he became a close friend and collaborator of Dmitri Shostakovich. Weinberg's music is often compared to that of Shostakovich, with whom he shared a similar style and sensibility. Symphony No. 21 (Kaddish), Op. 152, is a powerful and moving work that reflects Weinberg's personal history and his deep connection to Jewish culture and tradition. It is a testament to the enduring power of music to express the most profound human emotions and experiences.

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