Symphony No. 1 (Lilburn)
Encyclopedia
The Symphony No. 1 of Douglas Lilburn
was completed in 1949, and had its premiere
in 1951. The symphony
is in three integrated movements; a typical performance lasts around 30 minutes.
The symphony opens with a trumpet
motto, forcefully stated, and shadowed by timpani
; this is eventually woven into a theme for strings
, over which woodwinds begin a climb. The second theme of the movement is more austere, yet is still exuberant. The second movement is more lyrical
in nature, and is structured around two main themes; of these, the first is stated initially by the strings, while the second is first taken up by the woodwinds. The third and final movement is built on four themes, derived from what Lilburn once called "the naive, generous country that gave one its joyous force".
The movements are marked as follows:
Several recordings of the symphony exist.
Douglas Lilburn
Douglas Gordon Lilburn ONZ FRCM was a New Zealand composer.-Early life:Lilburn was born in Wanganui. He attended Waitaki Boys' High School from 1930 to 1933, before moving to Christchurch to study journalism and music at Canterbury University College...
was completed in 1949, and had its premiere
Premiere
A premiere is generally "a first performance". This can refer to plays, films, television programs, operas, symphonies, ballets and so on. Premieres for theatrical, musical and other cultural presentations can become extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media...
in 1951. The symphony
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
is in three integrated movements; a typical performance lasts around 30 minutes.
The symphony opens with a trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
motto, forcefully stated, and shadowed by timpani
Timpani
Timpani, or kettledrums, are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet...
; this is eventually woven into a theme for strings
String instrument
A string instrument is a musical instrument that produces sound by means of vibrating strings. In the Hornbostel-Sachs scheme of musical instrument classification, used in organology, they are called chordophones...
, over which woodwinds begin a climb. The second theme of the movement is more austere, yet is still exuberant. The second movement is more lyrical
Lyrical
The term lyrical may mean:*Lyrics, or words in songs*Lyrical dance, a style of dancing*Emotional, expressing strong feelings*Lyric poetry, poetry that expresses a subjective, personal point of view...
in nature, and is structured around two main themes; of these, the first is stated initially by the strings, while the second is first taken up by the woodwinds. The third and final movement is built on four themes, derived from what Lilburn once called "the naive, generous country that gave one its joyous force".
The movements are marked as follows:
- Allegro non troppo
- Andante con moto
- Allegro
Several recordings of the symphony exist.