Many reviews I've seen seem to sort of dismiss Kabalevsky's symphonies as being simplistic such as in terms of orchestration, but I think he deserves more credit! - it's quite convincing to me and reminds me of Shostakovich 0:00 I. Lento - Allegro molto e con fuoco 15:08 II. Largo 25:31 III. Allegretto capriccioso e con moto 31:41 IV. Sostenuto assai - Allegro molto e energico
Agreed. These Kabalevsky posts have been quite revealing, proving there is so much more to this composer than _The Comediennes_ . Case in point, this symphony is a solid working of some nice themes, cut from Russian cloth, which are instantly recognizable as such, as similar to Shosty as he is to Prokofiev as he is to.... They are all Russian school- why wouldn't they sound similar? One could probably differentiate obscure Shostakovich from Prokofiev right off the bat, but you couldn't fault one for guessing Kabalevsky for either one. That doesn't make K. derivative, just less well known. His themes may be less strong in his longer forms, but they are expressive and effective. As far as orchestration goes, whoever says these are simplistic probably has little experience in orchestration. There is only so much one can do with material like this, and he perfectly places it in my humble opinion, giving it full voice.
to tell the truth, I was reading through a Shostakovich score at the same time as Vaughan-Williams' London Symphony and was amazed how much more complex the latter's orchestration was. Having now reading through many Shostakovich scores he seems by default to put the melody in the upper winds and strings, doubling the bassoon line with the violas.
@@russellplows5134 Half note = 138, this recording is not even close. Here is the composer conducting: th-cam.com/video/lj57UnrnHwc/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=DaveGorman You are absolutely correct; a world of difference. This orchestra sounds capable of the original metronome mark- wonder what this conductor was thinking?
Many reviews I've seen seem to sort of dismiss Kabalevsky's symphonies as being simplistic such as in terms of orchestration, but I think he deserves more credit! - it's quite convincing to me and reminds me of Shostakovich
0:00 I. Lento - Allegro molto e con fuoco
15:08 II. Largo
25:31 III. Allegretto capriccioso e con moto
31:41 IV. Sostenuto assai - Allegro molto e energico
Agreed. These Kabalevsky posts have been quite revealing, proving there is so much more to this composer than _The Comediennes_ . Case in point, this symphony is a solid working of some nice themes, cut from Russian cloth, which are instantly recognizable as such, as similar to Shosty as he is to Prokofiev as he is to.... They are all Russian school- why wouldn't they sound similar? One could probably differentiate obscure Shostakovich from Prokofiev right off the bat, but you couldn't fault one for guessing Kabalevsky for either one. That doesn't make K. derivative, just less well known. His themes may be less strong in his longer forms, but they are expressive and effective. As far as orchestration goes, whoever says these are simplistic probably has little experience in orchestration. There is only so much one can do with material like this, and he perfectly places it in my humble opinion, giving it full voice.
to tell the truth, I was reading through a Shostakovich score at the same time as Vaughan-Williams' London Symphony and was amazed how much more complex the latter's orchestration was. Having now reading through many Shostakovich scores he seems by default to put the melody in the upper winds and strings, doubling the bassoon line with the violas.
I have to say I'm thoroughly enjoying exploring Kabalevsky's ouevre.
The con fuoco is nothing like the marking and lacks excitement.
@@russellplows5134 Half note = 138, this recording is not even close. Here is the composer conducting: th-cam.com/video/lj57UnrnHwc/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=DaveGorman
You are absolutely correct; a world of difference. This orchestra sounds capable of the original metronome mark- wonder what this conductor was thinking?
based Kabalevsky
Did your toddler get a hold of your score? 😂