Basel Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alun Francis.
I - L'insurrection. Animé: 0:00
II - Aux Morts de la République. Lent: 5:07
III - Le Joies de la Liberté retrouvée. Modérément animé: 18:07
IV - Commémoration 1948. Animé: 23:10
Milhaud's Symphony No.4 was composed in 1947, being commissioned by the French government to celebrate the centenary of the 1848 Revolution. The composer, who returned to France after eight years of wartime exile in the United States, did so on a freighter from San Francisco to Le Havre, passing through the Panama Canal. The trip took 41 days and in that time he wrote the symphony. It was premiered on a French Radio broadcast on May 20 of 1948. Conductor Roger Desormière fell ill, so Milhaud led the performance himself.
This is the only symphony by Milhaud with a direct historical program, which attempts to portray the French 1848 Revolution. It was a period of great civil unrest in France that led to the collapse of the July Monarchy of Louis Philippe I, and the foundation of the French Second Republic. It sparked the wave of revolutions of 1848 that would agitate practically the whole European continent. The revolution began in Paris, and was preceded by the French government's crackdown on political gatherings. However, the workers and students, mobilising in the previous days, refused to back down over the demonstrations.
Starting on February 22, large crowds began flooding out onto the streets of Paris, unable to be contained by the police. With the arrival of reinforcements, protesters were dispersed, but the crowds were too large to be arrested or contained, and so they spread out through the city. On February 23, troops were brought to the capital, but instead of attacking the crowds, they joined them. Prime minister François Guizot resigned, but protesters radicalised after soldiers 14th Line Infantry Regiment opened fire against the crowds, killing and injuring over a hundred people. After intense urban fighting, large crowds managed to take control of the capital, leading to the abdication of King Louis Philippe I on February 24 and the subsequent proclamation of the Second Republic.
The first movement begins with a bright and imposing main theme in form of a march. Piccolo exposes a second theme in form of a revolutionary folksong. A polyphonic and polytonal transformation of these materials ensue, all mixed and woven together. Milhaud employs polyphonic textures (using many separate lines at once) to represent the insurrection and the many individuals who come together to make a common movement. A varied recapitulation of the themes leads us to a potent climax. An enigmatic sustained blow of the tam-tam ends the movement.
The second movement is written in form of an arch. It opens with a dark main theme in form of a funereal march, an elegy to those who fell to establish the republic. It contrapuntally unfolds between flute and oboe over sinuous basses, also using polytonality. The theme passes to different instruments that add their own nuances and timbrical colours. The music grows more expressive and dramatic, reaching a passionate climax in this funereal chant. After a final polytonal declamation, the music gradually calms down. The movement ends as the main theme is recapitulated in a varied way on cellos, with the marching rhythm dissolving in the silence.
The third movement is also in form of an arch. It begins with a light and dance-like main theme between woods and strings, representing the joy after the obtained freedom and peace. Other dance tunes are introduced and fleshed out by Milhaud's polytonal style, creating vigorous dissonances. A powerful climax is reached, after which we return to the opening lightness and joy. A triumphal coda ends the movement.
The fourth movement is structured in ternary form. It opens with military rhythms, followed by an imposing main theme in form of a fanfare. A triumphal march then takes place, commemorating the triumph of the revolution. A more melodic interlude offers contrast, but the imposing march reappears and dominates the music. The music grows more agitated and intense, the revolutionary folksongs from the first movement being quoted. A radiant and heroic coda ends the work triumphally with the opening marching rhythms.
Picture: "Lamartine in front of the Town Hall of Paris rejects the red flag on 25 February 1848" (unknow date) by the French painter Henri Félix Emmanuel Philippoteaux.
Musical analysis mostly written by myself. Sources: tinyurl.com/2auk5wz5 and tinyurl.com/2auk5wz5
Unfortunately, the score is not freely available.
4 июл 2024
