Symphony No.12 in G minor ''The Collective Farm" - Nikolai Myaskovsky

Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Stankovsky.

I - Andante - Adagio severo - Andante - Allegro giocoso - Feroce - Allegro come primo - Andante - Adagio severo - Andante come primo: 0:00
II - Presto agitato - Quasi l'istesso tempo. Invocando - Pesante - In tempo - Meno mosso - Tempo giusto (mosso) - Poco più pesante - Invocando - Presto agitato (Tempo I) - Invocando e pesante - Presto agitato (Tempo I) - Poco più pesante - Invocando - Molto stringendo: 12:18
III - Allegro festivo e maestoso - Con elevazione e molto espressivo - Pesante - Adagio - Più appassionato - Presto agitato - Tempo I - Con elevazione e molto espressivo - A tempo, ma un poco mosso - Più gaio (mosso) - Presto - A doppio meno presto (ma sempre vivo) - In tempo: 21:50

Myaskovsky's Symphony No.12 was composed in the winter of 1931-2, along with No.11. It was dedicated "For the fifteenth anniversary of the October Revolution", also being subtitled "Kolkhoze Symphony" for its original programmatic nature. It was premiered on June 1 of 1932, performed by the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra conducted by Albert Coates. After finishing the first two movements quickly, the final one was extremely difficult for him, worsened by an illness and the upcoming deadline.

The work is based on "The Proletarians" by the popular Soviet poet Viktor Gusev. The symphony had a programmatic explanation given by the composer himself, which he later eliminated. It shows the changes produced in a Russian village during the communist reforms. The first movement represents the life of the peasants before the communist reform, the second the changes to achieve a new life and after them, and the third celebrates the victory of the proletariat over capitalism represented by the Kulaks, the owners of land. Myaskovsky was dissatisfied with the piece as a whole and considered it his weakest symphony.

For historical context: In 1927 a policy of voluntary collectivization of agriculture began in the Soviet Union, with the idea of ​​increasing food production and liberalizing investments for industrial development. Shortly after it began the First Five-Year Plan (1928-1932) that began extensive industrialization through the country. In agriculture the pressure towards collectivization drastically increased. In 1929 only 4% of the farms were collective. Stalin ordered forced collectivization, seizing land and animals. There appear two types of farms; the Kolkhozes, cooperatives or communal farms and the Sovkhozes, state farms. These policies caused millions of deaths between famines and state repression.

The first movement is structured as a rhapsody. It opens with the clarinet introducing a main, melancholic theme of Russian flavour, taken by English horn and strings. This represents the sad situation of the peasants before the Revolution. The bassoon, supported by cello and basses, presents a second theme of reflective nature. It is taken by the orchestra, leading to an expressive climax. After a transition, the flute opens a lively and animated section, with a cheerful and rustic third theme shared between the instruments. It shows that in spite of their oppression, the Russian peasants retained their joy, but this interpretation seems that the communist critics did not like it very much. Follows a short yet vigorous development on this material. The previous themes are recapitulated in an inverted way; the second and then the first, leading to a fade-out coda.

The second movement is structured as an expanded scherzo in ternary form (A-B-A'-B'-A''-B''). It opens with trumpet calls, leading to a rhythmic and tense main theme. It represents the calls for peasant insurrection. A solemn second theme of folkloric character appears, representing the people's struggle to get rid of oppression. A brief development takes place, in which the materials are combined through counterpoint. It showcases the struggles of the farm during the introduction of socialism. The main theme is recapitulated, followed by the second before the main quickly continues. After another brief recapitulation of the second theme, a quiet trumpet-call leads us to a sudden coda.

The third movement is structured as a rondo (A-B-C-D-A'-B'-Coda). It begins with a joyful and festive main theme, showing the triumph of the peasants over the kulaks. It is contrasted by a lyrical second theme, as if the communist utopian happiness has been achieved. After a long pause, the second theme from the previous movement, along with the first, appears as a memory of past suffering and the stage of struggle. The opening theme doubtfully appears, followed by the second. The music grows brighter and solemn, leading us to a triumphant coda with the victory of the working class.

Picture: A group of women collective farmers replace the men who have left for the front in the Klishevo Collective Farm.

Musical analysis partially written by myself. Sources: https://bit.ly/3yTP7Ya and https://bit.ly/3ACy6TP

Видео Symphony No.12 in G minor ''The Collective Farm" - Nikolai Myaskovsky канала Sergio Cánovas