Symphony No.9 in E minor "In Summer" - Joachim Raff

Bamberg Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hans Stadlmair.

Part I.
I - A hot day. Allegro: 0:00
Part II.
II - The hunt of the elves. Allegro: 12:18
Part III.
III - Eclogue. Larghetto: 22:44
IV - To the harvest wreath. Allegro: 29:27

Raff's Symphony No.9 was composed between the summer and autumn of 1878, being the second in a tetralogy of works dedicated to each season. It was premiered on March 28 of 1879, premiered at Weisbaden’s Kurhaus by the Stätliches Orchesters conducted by Louis Lüstner. It was very well-received, being considered one of his best late compositions.

One can clearly see the inspiration Raff took from Shakespeare, specially his "A Midsummer Night’s Dream". In the following year he would also compose the four Shakespeare preludes. Like Raff's Symphonies No.7 and 8, the work eschews the more overly programmatic elements of earlier symphonies, limiting to just putting subtitles with each movement and letting the music express itself.

The first movement is written in a modified sonata form, representing the pleasures of a hot summer day. It opens with a slow introduction, with soft chords which quickly leads us to the main allegro. A cheerful and bright main theme is presented, being contrapuntally developed. A lyrical second theme is then presented by the clarinet. The development that follows is substantial and complex, being extensively contrapuntal in nature. The music culminates in a grand and expansive climax. The recapitulation is inverted, the second theme coming before the main one. A vigorous coda ends the movement.

The second movement is a scherzo structured in sonata form, being inspired by an episode in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. It begins with a playful and light main theme, representing the hunt of the elves. It leads us to the second section, in which Oberon and Titania are represented by viola and cello respectively, them being the king and queen of the fairies. Follows a rich and varied development of these materials, culminating in a powerful climax. The materials are then boldly recapitulated in a simultaneous manner, leading us to a calm but bright coda.

The third movement is written in form of an arch, the subtitle referring to a pastoral poem which Raffs portraits through music. A lyrical main theme is presented by oboe, followed by the wood. The music is heavily pastoral in character, also anticipating Sibelius by several decades. It grows more passionate and expressive in the middle part, before the theme is gently recapitulated. A modest coda ends the movement.

The fourth movement is also written in sonata form, representing the celebration of wreath harvest. It begins with a ceremonious main theme, which passes through different orchestrations until reaching a solemn climax. It is contrasted by an energetic and rhythmic second theme on strings, which culminates in another climax. Follows a development that combines these materials, solemnity and festivity, and plays with modulations and piano-forte contrasts. The main themes are then exuberantly recapitulated. A coda full of energy and life ends the works brilliantly.

Picture: "The Triumph of Bacchus" (1628-9) by the Spanish painter Diego Velázquez.

Musical analysis mostly written by myself. Sources: https://bit.ly/3ZPNsi3 and https://bit.ly/3GKgabi

To check the score: https://bit.ly/3Wbar3R

Видео Symphony No.9 in E minor "In Summer" - Joachim Raff канала Sergio Cánovas