William Bolcom: Symphony No. 5 (1989)

American Composers Orchestra conducted by / Orquesta de los Compositores Estadounidenses dirigida por Dennis Russell Davies
I. Pensive (0:00)
II. Scherzo mortale (6:02)
III. Hymne à l’Amour (12:42)
IV. Machine (19:02)
William Bolcom (n. 1938) is one of the foremost composers of the Class of 1937-38. His style passed through several mutations before arriving into a powerful neoromantic language. Proof of this is his Fifth Symphony which is both eclectic while keeping an original inspiration: a slow reflective movement contrasts with a doom-laden scherzo. A true homage to Messiaen follows, which culminates with an sample of imitative music (mimicking a machine).
William Bolcom (n. 1938) es uno de los principales compositores de la Generación de 1937-38. Su estilo ha pasado a través de varias mutaciones antes de llegar a un poderoso lenguaje neorromántico. Prueba de ello es su Quinta Sinfonía la cual es ecléctica, pero mantiene una inspiración original: un movimiento meditativo contrasta con un scherzo desastroso. Les sigue un homenaje a Messiaen que culmina con una muestra de música imitativa (de una máquina).
Image/imagen: Jersey Silk Mills. Oscar Bluemner, 1917.

[@bowerdw]

TH-cam is now loaded with these symphonies, essentially unheard and unexperienced. Someone took the liberty to record this one, and it was placed on TH-cam, still unnoticed. It is a work worth listening to.

[@charlottewhyte9804]

agree it sure is

[@hectorbarrionuevo6034]

Enjoyed this work, especially the stately, pensive, beautiful third movement, in which Bolcom lauds O. Messiaen (I guess, the Frenchman's early works, such as his majestic L'Ascension). Also liked the unrelenting, energetic last movement. The tonal language of the last two movements seemed a bit more accessible than that of Movements I and II.

[@stueystuey1962]

takes a minute for folks to know what is available. heck I'm still learning about 50 composers I had never heard of less than ten years ago.

[@gabrieru1983]

Nunca he investigado la música de Bolcom con detenimiento....veremos que tal....ciertamente hay mucho de Messiaen en "Hymne à l’Amour" .........gracias!!

[@ronaldbwoodall2628]

A minimal symphony this, written in an accepted modernist idiom of the time, with brash orchestration and annoying pretentious effects (and of course some jazz). What the hymn "Abide With Me" followed by the wedding march signifies is a mystery, but the context surely trivializes them. Ives and Antheil, to name two, did this sort of thing much better, although admittedly Bolcom's work sounds like no one else's. Nor should it, let it stand alone, the easier to ignore.

[@SpaghettiToaster]

I think this is the first time I've read a negative comment by you under any music video. Fascinating - not that I disagree.

[@mikesmovingimages]

Agreed. This is not a keeper.

[@StinkinGoodAle3241]

I think "Hymne a l'Amour" might provide a clue or 2 toward the significance of "Abide With Me" and the march. I found the piece to be something I want to listen to many more times, especially the slow movement (I don't care for the finale much, but there's explaining taste, right?)

[@StinkinGoodAle3241]

Just relistened to to it. The 1st movement is simply charming.