Symphony No. 4, subtitled Sinfonía romántica is an orchestral composition by Carlos Chávez, composed in 1953.
History
The score was commissioned by and is dedicated to the Louisville Orchestra, which premiered the work on 11 February 1953, conducted by the composer. After the first few performances, Chávez decided that the final movement, though sound in itself, was not satisfactory as a conclusion to this symphony. Consequently, he composed a new finale in October 1953, and published the original movement as a separate work, titled Baile .
Instrumentation
The Symphony is scored for an orchestra of three flutes, two oboes, cor anglais, two clarinets, three bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, three trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion, and strings.
Analysis
The Symphony is divided into three movements:
Allegro
Molto lento
Vivo non troppo mosso
In contrast to the Third Symphony, there are no formal innovations here. The symphony is in the key of A—a sort of A minor tonality—though the overall character is brighter and more optimistic than the Third Symphony. Chávez treats his material cyclically, which means that thematic elements reappear throughout all three movements.
Discography
Carlos Chávez: Sinfonía india, Sinfonía de Antígona, Sinfonía romántica. Stadium Symphony Orchestra, Carlos Chávez, cond. LP recording. Everest LPBR 6029, SDBR 3029. : Everest Records, 1959. Reissued on CD, Philips Legendary Classics 422 305-2. : Philips Classics Productions, 1989. Reissued on CD, Everest EVC-9041. New York: Everest Records, 1996.
The Six Symphonies of Carlos Chávez. London Symphony Orchestra; Eduardo Mata, cond. 3-LP set. Vox Cum Laude 3D-VCL 9032. New York: Moss Music Group, 1983. Reissued on 2-CD set as Carlos Chávez: The Complete Symphonies. VoxBox2 CDX 5061. Hauppauge, NY: Moss Music Group, 1992.
Música Méxicana Vol. 7: Chávez: Cantos de México, Toccata for Orchestra, Paisajes mexicanos, La hija de Cólquide, Baile . Claudia Coonce, oboe; The State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra; Enrique Bátiz, cond. CD recording. ASV Digital CD DCA 927. London: Academy Sound and Vision Ltd., 1995.
Leonard Bernstein: Historical Recordings 1941–1961. 12-CD set. West Hill Radio Archives WHRA-6048. : West Hill Radio Archives, 2013. CD 11 includes Chávez's Symphony No. 4, performed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Leonard Bernstein, recorded 8 February 1960 in Carnegie Hall, New York City.
