Igor Stravinsky - Symphony of Psalms [With score]

Composer: Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky (17 June 1882 -- 6 April 1971)
Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Sir Georg Solti

The Symphony of Psalms, written in 1930

00:00 - 1st movement
03:24 - 2nd movement
10:07 - 3rd movement

The Symphony of Psalms is a three-movement choral symphony and was composed by Igor Stravinsky in 1930 during his neoclassical period. The work was commissioned by Serge Koussevitzky to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The symphony derives its name from the use of Psalm texts in the choral parts.

According to Stravinsky, the commission for the work came about from "a routine suggestion" from Koussevitzky, who was also Stravinsky's publisher, that he write something "popular" for orchestra without chorus. Stravinsky, however, insisted on the psalm-symphony idea, which he had had in mind for some time. The choice of Psalm 150, however, was in part because of the popularity of that text. The symphony was written in Nice and Echarvines, which was Stravinsky's summer home in those years. The three movements are performed without a break, and the texts sung by the chorus are drawn from the Vulgate versions in Latin. Unlike many pieces composed for chorus and orchestra, Stravinsky said that “it is not a symphony in which I have included Psalms to be sung. On the contrary, it is the singing of the Psalms that I am symphonizing."

Although the piece was written for the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the world premiere was actually given in Brussels by the Société Philharmonique de Bruxelles on December 13, 1930, under the direction of Ernest Ansermet. The American premiere of the piece was given soon afterwards by Koussevitzky and the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with the chorus of the Cecilia Society (trained by Arthur Fiedler) on December 19, 1930. The first recording was made by Stravinsky himself with the Orchestre des Concerts Straram and the Alexis Vlassay Choir at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris on February 17 and 18, 1931. "The choir, throaty, full-blooded, darkly, inwardly passionate, sing with liturgical conviction and intensity in a memorable performance."

Like many of Stravinsky's other works, including Petrushka and The Rite of Spring, the Symphony of Psalms occasionally employs the octatonic scale (which alternates whole steps and half steps), the longest stretch being eleven bars between rehearsal numbers 4 and 6 in the first movement. Stravinsky stated that the root of the entire symphony is "the sequences of two minor thirds joined by a major third... derived from the trumpet-harp motive at the beginning of the allegro in Psalm 150".

Stravinsky portrays the religious nature of the text through his compositional techniques. He wrote substantial portions of the piece in fugal counterpoint, which was used widely in the church in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. He also uses the large chorus to create a ritual atmosphere like that of the Church.

[juhis_oksanen]

Once you go to Stravinsky's world, you don't want to get out. How wonderful combination of harmony and creative and playful dissonance he wrote for us!

[cpiano]

When I first started to learn this in college I hated it with a passion. Then by the concert date I thought it was one the most beautiful pieces written and still feel that way 45-years later. How lucky I was the choir director chose it. I've loved Stravinsky ever since that time. I want to thank Thomas Somerville for such an experience. It was his first year teaching at USC and I'll never forget him.

[stephenjablonsky]

"Laudate, laudate" infects your psyche and you find yourself singing it the next day. That's when music is magical! Alleluia!

[Pymmusic]

Thank for you work... Reading the score while you listen this masterpiece is very beautiful!

[paulfaulkner]

My older brother bought a recording of the Symphony of Psalms and it was my introduction to Stravinsky, whose music I have been in love with ever since. Sadly, none of the choirs I have sung with have performed it so I keep my vocal score in hope

[kevinmathewson]

20:17 those harmonies over alleluia have lingered in my head for years

[WoodwindsRock]

The second movement is so mindblowingly awesome. Gives me goosebumps every time! A fugue for winds and then continued counterpoint underneath the choir. Love it so much!

[MegaCirse]

Stravinsky est plus que le reflet d'une époque. C'est un astéroïde fantôme qui revient jeter son dévolu sur l'art sonore. Une onde décadente chargée de paradoxes d'où s'échappent l'obscurantisme et l'irrationnel, facteurs hypnotiques défiant les âmes vulnérables en quête d'absolu. Cette architecture sonore est un court tunnel qui mène à la lumière!

[bronbourbon]

16:45 This theeme has been haunting me for two weeks now. Stravinsky - genius! So simple and so smart at the same time.

[truBador]

Happily, I had the privilege of singing this a couple times. It is hair raising in a good performance. One of those performances was programmed with Vaughn Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem and, as top-notch as that piece is, it almost seemed like fluff beside this.

[NovicebutPassionate]

"The Symphony of Psalms is one of the great works of the twentieth century, a masterpiece of invention, musical architecture, and religious devotion." Donald J. Grout, Claude V. Palisca, A History of Western Music, Fourth Edition, Norton, P. 840.

[pureumit]

0:02 1악장
0:33 1악장 시편
3:25 2악장 푸가의 제 1주제
3:50 푸가의 대주제
5:28 푸가의 제 2주제 합창
10:18 3악장 합창

[michelleong]

Really interesting arrangement Stravinsky made, I've never heard an orchestral texture like this before. Beautiful

[유콩이-qr]

0:33 vocal entrance
- 시편 노래하는 부분
- 라틴어 노래함
3:25 2악장
-2중푸가
3:25 1주제
3:50 대주제
5:28 2주제(합창)
10:08 3악장

[pjcoop]

The 'Alleluia' is one of most beautiful pieces of music ever written.. (IMHO)

[skylarlimex]

what an orchestration! that last chord sounds like it's being played by an organ

[LochNess_Drums]

Sang this with the Phoenix Boys Choir when I was about 11 years old. Dont remember all of it but a lot of it stuck with me

[moderato]

0:02 1 ч. Exaudi orationem meam, вступ, оркестрова тема
0:33 1 ч. Exaudi orationem meam, хорова тема
3:25 2 ч. Expectans expectavi, Подвійна фуга, 1 тема фуги (оркестрова)
5:27 2 ч. Expectans expectavi, Подвійна фуга, 2 тема фуги (хорова)
10:18 3ч. Laudate Dominum

[vivasavonarola]

very beautiful masterwork. Thank you for posting it.

[elainebmack]

The 3rd movement transition from the introduction to Tempo I is pure genius.