Symphony No.14 in C major - Nikolai Myaskovsky

State Academic Symphonic Orchestra of Russia conducted by Evgeny Svetlanov

I - Allegro giocoso: 0:00
II - Andantino quasi allegretto: 8:07
III - Quasi presto: 15:47
IV - Andante sostenuto: 19:42
V - Allegro con fuoco: 29:39

Myaskovsky's fourteenth symphony was written in 1933, a very productive year. In a short time he composed three new symphonies. Therefore it is not strange that some parts conceived for one, ended up being used in another. Thus the ending previously thought for this symphony ended up being the beginning of the fifteenth symphony. It premiered in Moscow on February 24, 1935, performed by the Bolshoi Theater orchestra led by Viktor Kubatzky, to whom he dedicated the work. It was published in 1937 by the National Music Editions.

In a delicate moment for the Soviet composers, whose works were severely investigated as if they were literary works, Myaskovsky shows great creativity. For this he accepts the doctrine of narodnost: proximity to the people, which was consistent with Soviet thought. The work is divided into five movements, contains a large number of popular themes of Kazakh influence.

The first movement begins with a cheerful folk theme of a rhythmic nature. A second less dynamic theme appears. The music is totally tonal, with little dissonance in its harmony. After a brief development the topics are taken to their recapitulation.

The second movement presents its main theme through the clarinet. It is a melancholic pastoral theme. In the central part it shows a popular theme more alive, as if it were a peasant party. Then the music returns to the melancholy of the beginning.

The third movement corresponds to the scherzo. A rhythmic and undulating theme is the first element. The second element has more popular character. The trio begins with imitations of bells in an ironic way. Follow with a marked simple melody. A dissonant note starts the coda.

The fourth movement is characterized by the descending ostinato of four chromatic notes, that is, they do not belong to the same tonality. This serves as the basis for the main theme. Its development takes us from its initial mysticism to deep moments of lyricism.

The last movement starts explosively. The main theme, apparently it is an authentic folk song of Kazakhistan. Written in the form of a rhapsody, the movement brings together a series of popular songs and dances. A loud call of the trumpets starts a brilliant coda.

Picture: "A family" (1945) by the Russian-Soviet painter Viktor Ivanov.

Sources from this spanish website on Myaskovsky symphonism: http://www.historiadelasinfonia.es/naciones/la-sinfonia-en-rusia/miaskovsky/

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