The word symphony has been used over the centuries to mean very different things. Today, people speak of going to the symphony to mean that they are going to a concert where an orchestra will be performing. We also speak of Mozart's or Shostakovich's Symphony No. Z to signify a particular type of large-form composition that is constructed in a particular way. But it wasn't always this way.
The Oxford Dictionary of Music says that the word has Greek origins and meant "sounding together." It goes on to say:
"(1) In 17th and 18th cents., Sinfonia meant what we should now call an ‘overture’ to an opera, etc., i.e. a short instr. piece often consisting of 3 short sections or movements in quick‐slow‐quick form.
(2) It was also used of an orch. interlude, e.g. the ‘Pastoral’ sym. in Handel's Messiah, in a vocal work. Some 20th‐cent. composers have revived this archaic usage of the term, e.g. Stravinsky in his Symphonies of Wind Instruments ( 1920 )."*
PSWE is about to launch into an exploration of what a symphony is and will present it's findings on November 14th and 21st. Given the nature of the wind ensemble, we will lean toward more modern takes on the symphony but modern does not necessarily mean avant guard.
Ralph Vaughan Williams wrote the Scherzo to his 8th Symphony for winds alone. Richard Wagner wrote his beautiful Trauersinfonie for winds. More recently, composers such as Johan deMeij and Frank Ticheli have written brilliant works taking elements from the symphonic form. We will also take a look at a couple of brilliant transcriptions of orchestral works for winds. Fans of Mozart and Ives will have something for them on this program.
In an effort to present a broad sweep of takes on what symphony means, we will offer single movements of much of these works. We will, however, present one of the greatest symphonies written for winds in it's entirety. Vincent Persichetti's famous Symphony for Band, his sixth symphony, is a brilliant work that shows what a modern master can do with the form.
We hope that you will come back and read more on this blog as we lead up to these concerts. Feel free to post your questions about any of this repertoire or the concert itself. I will do my best to answer your questions.
Most importantly, join us at Evergreen Cultural Centre on November 14th or Kay Meek Centre on November 21st to wrap yourself in the glorious, warm sounds of PSWE and symphonic wind music.
*"Symphony." The Oxford Dictionary of Music, 2nd ed. rev. Ed. Michael Kennedy. Oxford Music Online. 27 Aug. 2009<http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/opr/t237/e10019>
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