Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Sir Alexander Gibson.
I - Allegro moderato - Molto sostenuto - Poco meno mosso - Più mosso - Allegro molto - Tempo I: 0:00
II - Scherzo. Allegretto - Pochissimo meno mosso - Allegretto (Tempo I): 10:18
III - Largo: 16:04
IV - Finale. Allegro molto - Più tranquillo - L’istesso tempo - Un poco più tranquillo - L’istesso tempo - Presto - Molto pesante: 25:54
Stravinsky's Symphony in E-flat major was composed between July 18 and September 24 of 1905, being his first major work under the close supervision of his teacher Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The second and third movements were performed in a private concert in St. Petersburg on March 27 of 1907, played by the St. Petersburg Court Orchestra conducted by Hugo Warlich, after which Stravinsky revised the orchestration. Its full public premiere took place on January 22 of 1908, with the same orchestra conducted by Felix Blumenfeld. A final revision of the orchestration took place in 1913, which was then performed in Montreux on April 2 of 1914, performed by the Orchestre du Kursaal conducted by Ernest Ansermet.
Unlike many other composers, Stravinsky did not dismiss the piece as a mere student exercise, as he conducted the symphony multiple times and even recorded it in 1960. The work shows the influence not only of Rimsky-Korsakov (to whom the work is dedicated), but also Tchaikovsky and Glazunov. Stravinsky later wrote about the work: "I wrote this Symphony at a time when Glazunov reigned supreme. At that time I shared this admiration wholeheartedly." While the work is academic in nature, and clearly indebted to the grand Russian romantic tradition, an anticipation of Stravinsky's own style can be clearly heard in the scherzo, which would be later used as an intermezzo in performances of the Ballets Russes.
The first movement is structured in sonata form, clearly influenced by Glazunov and Borodin. It begins with a brilliant and assertive main theme in E-flat major, presented by full orchestra and rising to a powerful climax. A transition leads to the more lyrical second theme in B-flat major introduced by the clarinet before passing onto strings. The ensuing development is dominated by the opening fragment of the main theme, boldly modulating to keys such as C minor, G minor and G-flat major. After a dramatic climax, the material is then brilliantly recapitulated in the home key of E-flat major. A slower transition leads to a syncopated coda, which ends the allegro with a final statement of the main theme.
The second movement is a scherzo in ternary form, influenced by Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky. It opens with a rhythmic and vigorous main theme in B-flat major. The trio section features a more lyrical second theme in F major, presented by strings before woodwinds gradually join. It is based on the Russian folksong "Tchitcher-Yatcher" that Stravinsky would later reuse for his 1911 ballet "Petrushka" and his Three little songs of 1913. After a climax, both themes are contrapuntally combined in the key of E-flat major. The main theme is then recapitulated in the home key of B-flat major. A final repeat of the trio theme leads to a short and playful coda.
The third movement is also structured in ternary form, again showing the influence of Tchaikovsky, specially his Symphony No. 6 in B minor "Pathétique". It begins with a lyrical and melancholic main theme in G-sharp minor, introduced by cellos and violas in pianissimo. It passes onto full strings, growing into two dramatic and expressive climaxes. The central section features a noble and melodic second theme in E major, introduced by the horn before passing onto strings and offering great contrast. The music then reaches the most intense climax yet, leading to the varied recapitulation of the main theme. The largo ends with a long, sparse and desolate coda that seems to anticipate the 1910 ballet "The Firebird".
[Musical analysis continued in the comments section]
Picture: "Colourful Life" (1907) by the Russian-French painter Wassily Kandinsky.
Musical analysis mostly written by myself. Sources: tinyurl.com/2dqrhy9a, tinyurl.com/28w4fmyl and tinyurl.com/23cabkrk
To check the score: tinyurl.com/29kk8cyy
Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Sir Alexander Gibson.
I - Allegro moderato - Molto sostenuto - Poco meno mosso - Più mosso - Allegro molto - Tempo I: 0:00
II - Scherzo. Allegretto - Pochissimo meno mosso - Allegretto (Tempo I): 10:18
III - Largo: 16:04
IV - Finale. Allegro molto - Più tranquillo - L’istesso tempo - Un poco più tranquillo - L’istesso tempo - Presto - Molto pesante: 25:54
Stravinsky's Symphony in E-flat major was composed between July 18 and September 24 of 1905, being his first major work under the close supervision of his teacher Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. The second and third movements were performed in a private concert in St. Petersburg on March 27 of 1907, played by the St. Petersburg Court Orchestra conducted by Hugo Warlich, after which Stravinsky revised the orchestration. Its full public premiere took place on January 22 of 1908, with the same orchestra conducted by Felix Blumenfeld. A final revision of the orchestration took place in 1913, which was then performed in Montreux on April 2 of 1914, performed by the Orchestre du Kursaal conducted by Ernest Ansermet.
Unlike many other composers, Stravinsky did not dismiss the piece as a mere student exercise, as he conducted the symphony multiple times and even recorded it in 1960. The work shows the influence not only of Rimsky-Korsakov (to whom the work is dedicated), but also Tchaikovsky and Glazunov. Stravinsky later wrote about the work: "I wrote this Symphony at a time when Glazunov reigned supreme. At that time I shared this admiration wholeheartedly." While the work is academic in nature, and clearly indebted to the grand Russian romantic tradition, an anticipation of Stravinsky's own style can be clearly heard in the scherzo, which would be later used as an intermezzo in performances of the Ballets Russes.
The first movement is structured in sonata form, clearly influenced by Glazunov and Borodin. It begins with a brilliant and assertive main theme in E-flat major, presented by full orchestra and rising to a powerful climax. A transition leads to the more lyrical second theme in B-flat major introduced by the clarinet before passing onto strings. The ensuing development is dominated by the opening fragment of the main theme, boldly modulating to keys such as C minor, G minor and G-flat major. After a dramatic climax, the material is then brilliantly recapitulated in the home key of E-flat major. A slower transition leads to a syncopated coda, which ends the allegro with a final statement of the main theme.
The second movement is a scherzo in ternary form, influenced by Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky. It opens with a rhythmic and vigorous main theme in B-flat major. The trio section features a more lyrical second theme in F major, presented by strings before woodwinds gradually join. It is based on the Russian folksong "Tchitcher-Yatcher" that Stravinsky would later reuse for his 1911 ballet "Petrushka" and his Three little songs of 1913. After a climax, both themes are contrapuntally combined in the key of E-flat major. The main theme is then recapitulated in the home key of B-flat major. A final repeat of the trio theme leads to a short and playful coda.
The third movement is also structured in ternary form, again showing the influence of Tchaikovsky, specially his Symphony No. 6 in B minor "Pathétique". It begins with a lyrical and melancholic main theme in G-sharp minor, introduced by cellos and violas in pianissimo. It passes onto full strings, growing into two dramatic and expressive climaxes. The central section features a noble and melodic second theme in E major, introduced by the horn before passing onto strings and offering great contrast. The music then reaches the most intense climax yet, leading to the varied recapitulation of the main theme. The largo ends with a long, sparse and desolate coda that seems to anticipate the 1910 ballet "The Firebird".
[Musical analysis continued in the comments section]
Picture: "Colourful Life" (1907) by the Russian-French painter Wassily Kandinsky.
Musical analysis mostly written by myself. Sources: tinyurl.com/2dqrhy9a, tinyurl.com/28w4fmyl and tinyurl.com/23cabkrk
To check the score: tinyurl.com/29kk8cyy
