Sergei Prokofiev - Symphony 6 in E-flat Minor, Op. 111 (Score and Analysis): Movement II. Largo

II. Largo (A-flat Major)
Form: ABCDBCA (Arch sonata form with a mirrored recapitulation)

INTRODUCTION (A) A-flat major
00:00 a tense almost diabolic theme with the “organ-like” orchestration starts the movement.

(EXPOSITION)
PRIMARY THEME AREA (B) A-flat major
00:52 r.1. First theme. First violins and trumpet sing a romantic rising almost ecstatic melody. A heavy bass counterpoint makes up a dialogue with the theme. Rich of alterations and chromatisms, a viscous polyphonic harmonization is somewhat stylistically similar to some of Scriabin’s “languido” themes.

SECONDARY THEME AREA (C) E-flat major
02:39 r.3. Transition to the second theme.
03:17 r.4. Second theme. It expresses a softer and lighter emotion. It is smoothly stated by cellos and bassoons. However, the melody still features some intense alterations and remote modulations.
04:07 r.5. A surreal variation on the theme’s ending phrase played by oboe and bass clarinet closes the section.

DEVELOPMENT (D):
04:50 r.7. The primary theme grows out of the secondary theme in E major. Both themes are merged together.
05:46 r.8. A march-like rhythm is established. It is reminiscent of the first movement’s “invasion theme” and also it foreshadows the finale.
07:05 r.10. The previous battalia is calmed by the French horn trio in C major.
08:17 r.11. The trio stops as oboes, english horns and clarinets start soloing on primary theme fragments in canon. Later violins join polyphonically with a different fragment. Oboes, english horns and bassoons finish the original statement.
09:11 r.12. The trio continues in even more softer way due to the light celesta and harp accompaniment.

(RECAPITULATION)
SECONDARY THEME AREA (C) C major
10:03 r.13. The second theme arouses out of the frozen world where trio faded and starts gaining intensity as it progresses towards the reprise of the first theme. The theme starts higher in violins, making the secondary theme lose its contrast to primary theme.

PRIMARY THEME AREA (B) A-flat major
10:47 r.14. The identical restatement of the exposition B section.

CODA (A) A-flat major
12:09 r.16. Coda exploits introductionary material, making the theme close the arch form.

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