Composer

:

Louis Vierne

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Symphony

Compose Date

:

1914

Average_duration

:

35:07

Movement_count

:

5

Movement ....

Louis Vierne's Symphony No. 4 in G minor, Op. 32, was composed between 1914 and 1917, during the height of World War I. It premiered on April 26, 1918, at the Salle Pleyel in Paris, with the composer himself conducting the orchestra. The symphony is divided into four movements, each with its own distinct character and mood. The first movement, marked "Lento - Allegro," begins with a somber and mournful theme in the strings, which is then taken up by the woodwinds and brass. The music gradually builds in intensity, with the orchestra reaching a powerful climax before subsiding into a quiet and reflective coda. The second movement, marked "Scherzo - Allegro vivace," is a lively and energetic scherzo, with a playful and whimsical theme that is passed around the orchestra. The music is full of rhythmic vitality and syncopation, and the brass and percussion sections are particularly prominent. The third movement, marked "Larghetto," is a slow and lyrical interlude, with a beautiful and expressive melody in the strings. The music is richly harmonized, with lush textures and a sense of deep emotion and longing. The final movement, marked "Finale - Allegro molto," is a triumphant and exuberant conclusion to the symphony. The music is full of energy and excitement, with a driving rhythm and a sense of forward momentum. The brass and percussion sections are once again prominent, and the symphony ends with a thrilling and powerful flourish. Overall, Vierne's Symphony No. 4 is a deeply expressive and emotionally charged work, full of contrasts and surprises. It showcases the composer's mastery of orchestration and his ability to create music that is both technically complex and deeply moving.

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