Symphony No. 4 (Szymanowski)

The Symphony No. 4 (Symphonie concertante) Op. 60 is a work for solo piano and orchestra written by the Polish composer Karol Szymanowski between March and June 1932. It is dedicated to the pianist Arthur Rubinstein.[1] Szymanowski himself played the piano part at the premiere performance on 9 October 1932, with Grzegorz Fitelberg conducting the Poznań City Orchestra.[2]

The symphony is cast in three movements:

  1. Moderato. Tempo comodo
  2. Andante molto sostenuto
  3. Allegro non troppo, agitato ed ansioso

The symphony is scored for solo piano, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, percussion (4 players), harp and strings.

A typical performance lasts approximately 25 minutes.

Roman Berger's 1983 sonata for violin and piano is subtitled "with the Motif by K. Szymanowski". It includes a lengthy quotation of the symphony's opening piano theme, played by the violin midway through the first movement, in a pppp section marked subito meno messo e rubato misterioso.[3]

  1. ^ "Symphonie concertante for piano and orchestra op. 60". karolszymanowski.pl. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  2. ^ Iwanicka-Nijakowska, Anna. "Symphony No. 4 (Symphonie Concertante) Op. 60 – Karol Szymanowski". culture.pl. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  3. ^ Berger, Roman (1994). Sonáta s motivem K. Szymanowského : (1982-83) ; violino e piano. Bratislava: Supraphon. pp. 19–20. OCLC 248775463.