Witold Lutosławski - Symphony No. 4 (1988-1992) [Score Video]

Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra cond. Hannu Lintu
‘In one way or another, a two-part format - preparation, main event - lies at the heart of many of Lutosławski’s works over the last 30 years of his career, including the Second Symphony (whose two movements bear the explicit titles “Hesitant” and “Direct”) and the Third (introduction, preparatory first movement, large main movement, third movement comprising lyrical aftermath, brief coda). The Fourth Symphony presents an example that is both clear-cut in its two-movement layout and unprecedentedly subtle in the way in which the two movements relate to one another to create a single, overarching musical experience. Its first movement adopts a favorite ploy for engaging our attention while at the same time frustrating our desire for continuity: alternating two contrasting kinds of music. The first of these, a lyrical melody against a gentle, chordal background, is first exposed by solo clarinet, later by flute and clarinet together. Interposed between statements of this unfolding melody are mercurial interludes of faster, less predictable music. On its last appearance the lyrical music is taken up and extended by the strings until it culminates in an abortive attempt at a grand climax.
‘As promised, just at the moment when we grow impatient with the preparatory first movement, the main second movement arrives. This music unfolds in three stages. The first section, dominated by running 16th-note figures, introduces a grave, cantabile theme that will return for later development. The middle section is a sparkling orchestral texture that begins at the top of the orchestra and swells down through the ranks until, heralded by solo trumpet and a trio of trombones, it yields to the third section. Now the cantabile idea heard earlier returns in full force, gaining in urgency until it culminates in a powerful unison statement by the massed strings and brasses. As if there were no way forward from this frankly emotional climax, the music dissolves in dreamlike recollections. A brief, brilliant coda brings the Symphony to a close.’
- Steven Stucky (1993)

[@rubenmolino386]

excelrente !!

[@valerieheinderyckx4506]

Un des compositeurs les plus virtuose et impressionnant du monde entier. Un peu comme Dutilleux en France. Merci infiniment. ❤

[@minema7953]

Polish composers were something...

[@reidwhitton6248]

Thanks! I've watched Lintu's exciting performance of No.3 a couple times but I wasn't aware that he had recorded all four symphonies for the Ondine label.

[@Quim1441]

Simply... wow! Charming...

[@almondmattress]

Very good...

[@robertshugart4408]

Fantastic!

[@artofmusic303]

Beauty - 7, Comprehensibility - 7, Refinement - 9, Originality - 8. Thanks for uploading.

[@SCRIABINIST]

W❤

[@NothingFunnyAboutTheseCarpets]

❤

[@nicholas72611]

Based

[@LeanneHolloway-cy2uo]

i'm curious what individual parts look like with the barlines and stuff

[@sabinedeixler2637]

Thought exactly the same. And imagine the conductor saying: let's start again 8 bars from the beginning. Chaos

[@AndreyRubtsovRU]

@@sabinedeixler2637 barlines are all written out, it's either conventional 4/4 or 'conductor will give 4 cues in this bar'. not too much mystery here.

[@hom2fu]

hearing it should understand the sheet music. dunno level of composing

[@ComtedeMonteC]

Where does the first movement end and the 2nd movement begin?

[@Alex-dv5bt]

it's a single movement

[@krzysztofkurylek5594]

Little too fast, but still impressive.

[@Shibshankar_Roy]

where is the music?

[@Synthetic-Chord]

I'm sorry, have you tried using your ears?

[@Shibshankar_Roy]

@@Synthetic-Chord yes thats why i can't find music in it

[@Synthetic-Chord]

@@Shibshankar_Roy hmm you may have forgotten to use your brain then

[@musicboiscores]

I found the music! I think in the video is lasts from 00:00 to 20:42

[@dawlims1334]

Oh sir this is music, you think music is just all about beautiful melodies