"Daugava" Symphonic Poem - Evgeny Svetlanov

USSR State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Evgeny Svetlanov.

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Svetlanov's "Daugava" was composed in 1952, having finished his studies at the Gnessin Institute and moved to the Moscow Conservatory. The work is based on the river of the same name, rising in the Valdai Hills of Russia that flows through Belarus then Latvia into the Gulf of Riga of the Baltic Sea. Svetlanov also used Latvian folk themes as materials for the piece.

The work is structured in sonata form. It opens with a slow introduction with tremolos of the double basses, over which a solemn theme is introduced by the brass. The clarinet fully presents it in a lyrical manner, before a crescendo leads us to the main allegro. A vigorous and rhythmic main theme is presented by strings, contrasted by a deeply lyrical second theme presented by the clarinet, almost like a wordless ballad. An expressive climax is reached as it passes to strings, followed by another one as it is taken by the brass. A lively development ensues, written in a cheerful and bright manner. A massive climax is reached, followed by quick diminuendo. The recapitulation section is inverted (second theme before the main one), the second theme is warmly recapitulated, followed by the lively main theme. The music culminates in a triumphal climax with which the work ends.

Picture: Photograph of the Daugava river.

Musical analysis written by myself.

Unfortunately the score is not available.

Видео "Daugava" Symphonic Poem - Evgeny Svetlanov канала Sergio Cánovas