A Comparison Between Symphony Classique

Op. 25 and Yellow River Piano Concert

By: Samantha Tagle

Serge Prokovief Russian Composer, pianist, and conductor One of the major composers of the 20th century Born in Sontsovka, a rural estate of the Russian

Empire After the Russian Revolution, Prokovief left

Russia and lived in the U.S., Germany, then Paris.

Returned back Soviet Union in 1936, became apart of Union of Soviet Composers (isolation of Soviet Composers)

Symphony Classique

Prokovief’s Symphony Classique is a piece filled with ambiguous irony and admiration of the 18th century’s classical music

Composed in 1916 Four movement form: Allegro, Larghetto,

Gavotte:Non Troppo Allegro, Finale: Molto Vivace Two fast outer movement which bracket the two

slow movements.

Continued…

Gavotto movement inspired by a stylized dance The piece has a lighthearted and humorous

character Sharply dissonant and maintains a steadfastly

tonal base The Classical tone is shone through the harmonic

language Sudden shifts between tonal centers

Continued…

First movement, Allegro, is in Sonata form The Gavotte sounds very Mozartean The piece ends with an exuberant finale Constant shifts of tone implements suspense

and excitement

Xian Xinghai One of the earliest generation

of Chinese Composers Influenced by western classical

music Has influenced generations of

Chinese musicians Wrote vocal works that

encouraged people to fight Japanese invaders

Composed over 300 works: Composed in major musical forms: two symphonies, a violin concierto, choral works

Won the title “People’s Composer”

Yellow River Piano Concerto

The piece Xian Xinghai is best known for Piano and Orchestra Composed in 1939, Premiere in 1969 during

Cultural Revolution 8 movement piece originally, rearranged to 4

movements: Prelude, Ode, The Yellow River In Anger, Defend the Yellow River

Used traditional folk melodies

Continued…

Yellow River Piano Concerto was banished from the Chinese concert stage at the end of the Cultural Revolution in 1976

Remained popular outside of China Late 1980’s filtered back into Chinese

mainstream and performed by Chinese and Western artists

The Movements

Prelude: The Song of the Yellow River Boatman: Momentum of Waves- Rapid chromatic crescendo and use of cymbals

Ode to the Yellow River: Praise of the Yellow River- Deep and rich timbre of the cello

The Wrath of the Yellow River: Brings out melody Defend the Yellow River: Finale, polyphonic canon,

thematic writing(popular in traditional Chinese), first phase played by trumpet

Form Comparison

Symphony Classique

Four Movements: Allegro, Larghetto, Gavotte:Non Troppo Allegro, Finale: Molto Vivace Allegro

Yellow River Piano Concerto

Originally 8 movements but got rearranged into 4: Prelude, Ode, Wrath of the Yellow River, Defend the Yellow River

First MovementSymphony Classique

Allegro: Sonata Form D Major to C Major:

Harmonic Masculine, strong Lighthearted feel

Yellow River Piano Concerto

Prelude Pentatonic Scale of D Definite Rhythmic

Drive Exciting Characteristic Represents rapid

waters of the river

Second Movement Symphony Classique

Larghetto Slow Triple Meter Tempo picks up in

middle

Yellow River Piano Concerto

Ballad Style Peaceful Pentatonic Scale of B

flat Meter goes from

simple- quadruple to simple- triple

Faster tempo

Third Movement Symphony Classique

Gavotte Baroque Dance Triple Meter Ternary Form Harmonic I-VII-VII

Yellow River Piano Concerto

Wrath Four Different pentatonic

scales Starts calmly with bright

introduction Cheerful and lively Becomes dramatic, anger

Fourth Movement Symphony Classique

Molto Vivace Sonata Allegro Rapid and energetic Sudden Modulation Bright quality

Yellow River Piano Concerto

Defending Yellow River Passionate Concludes battle Ends with Coda Pentatonic Scale of C Fast tempo- simple duple Tonic and dominant harmonies Ends in Piano – soft

Works Cited

http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-07082008-094928/unrestricted/dissertation.pdf

http://www.class.uh.edu/Music/Koozin/techSeminar/prokofiev/ClassicalSymphonyandCulture.htm

http://www.answers.com/topic/symphony-no-1-in-d-major-classical-op-25

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei_Prokofiev http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xian_Xinghai