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 Movement

Symphony 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