Page 82 - GTMF 2024 Season Program

July 12 & 13 PROGRAM NOTES

Symphony No. 9 in burdens of proof. The movement symphonic poems and that crown
E minor, Op. 95, opens with a figure that clearly jewel of a cello concerto—were
“From the New World” references Beethoven’s Ninth still to come.
Symphony—a work that towers
th
continued over the 19 century as the
unimpeachable model and
constructed symphony that draws unattainable ideal. Overall, the © 2024 Scott Fogelsong
much of its thematic material Scherzo is a folk-inspired dance
from a few seed ideas, the most with contrasting episodes (trios)
important of which is heard at of a more lyrical nature. True to
the very opening—four notes, the symphony’s organicism, the
E-D-E-B. The slow introduction first of those episodes introduces
gives way soon enough to the a theme that bears more than
broad Allegro molto that is the a passing resemblance to Goin’
movement’s main body, its primary Home, while the second episode
theme containing a closing-off opens with an introverted gloss
figure that will resurface—albeit on the first movement’s primary
dramatically slowed down—as theme. The Scherzo ends by
Goin’ Home. The secondary dissolving into a stillness that
theme is a variant of the opening is abruptly shattered by a
seed idea, its resemblance to magnificent final hammer blow.
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot The Allegro con fuoco finale’s
notwithstanding. All in all, the first primary theme harks back to the
movement is taut and economical first movement, incorporating as
despite its length and the it does a clear reference to the
all-embracing gusto of its gestures.
opening “seed” idea. Although
The first movement ends on a the movement is cast in classical
minor triad; the Largo begins sonata form, Dvořák departs from
on that same triad, now shifted tradition by subjecting his primary
to major and transformed into theme to variations (eventually
a thing of mystery. The beloved eight in all) that reinterpret the
Goin’ Home English horn solo melody in ways both subtle and
follows, expansive and intimate, overt. Given the work’s deep
supported by discreet strings and organic unification, a valedictory
eventually joined by clarinet and smorgasbord of the various
bassoon. The movement is written (unified) themes is more or less
in three-part form in which inevitable, after which Dvořák
statements of the primary theme wraps it all up in a triumphant
flank a contrasting episode. blaze. But a surprise comes
Listen carefully to that episode at the very end: the final
and you might hear echoes of the chord unexpectedly drops to
opening “seed” idea stated with a breathlessly suspended
extraordinary subtlety. pianississimo. “What next?”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s Dvořák appears to be saying.
poem The Song of Hiawatha What next, indeed: the “New
has been floated as Dvořák’s World” may be Dvořák’s last
inspiration for the Scherzo, symphony, but he had a decade
although assertions to that effect yet to go, and some of his finest
cannot meet even minimal achievements—string quartets,

80 Grand Teton Music Festival Season 63