Two Episodes

(Thanks to Ms. Pedal for making this available) Orchestra: the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra Conductori: Dalia Stasevska Location: Concert Hall of the Helsinki Music Centre Date of broadcast: 19th August, 2016 Duration: seventeen minutes; the break between the two episodes is at the eight minute fifty second point Description of the piece from Wikipedia: Two Episodes is a composition for orchestra by the Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg. The work was commissioned by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, for which Lindberg is composer-in-residence, and co-commissioned by The Proms, the Helsinki Festival, and the Casa da Música. It was first performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Vladimir Jurowski in the Royal Albert Hall, London, on July 24, 2016. Lindberg composed Two Episodes as both a standalone piece and as concert opener for Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, for which it was first commissioned. Before the world premiere, Lindberg reflected, "If I was really pressed to choose just one composer from the classical canon it would have to be Beethoven, because he stands out as an example of what it is to be a contemporary composer – just as much as figures like Xenakis in my own lifetime. I've re-examined his late works with fresh ears in preparing for this composition, to create music that leads naturally to the amazing opening of the Ninth Symphony but which can also have an independent life of its own." Though Two Episodes does not directly quote the Ninth Symphony, the work is peppered with references to Beethoven's music. Lindberg remarked, "For obvious reasons I've kept well away from all references to Beethoven's finale which has to leap out on its own terms." He continued, "Rather than quotations, I've embedded a number of Beethovenian allusions, so there are clear aural links, and the orchestration matches the symphony, so it will have a period colour without harp, piano and exotic percussion that feature in many of my works. The harmonic world will naturally be much later than Beethoven's, though it is the outcome of where he was heading." Two Episodes has a duration of roughly 15 minutes and is cast in two connected movements. The first movement alludes to the opening movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. The second movement similarly references the third, slow movement of the Beethoven's Ninth and ends on the A and E perfect fifth that opens the symphony. The work is scored for an orchestra comprising two flutes, piccolo, two oboes, cor anglais, three clarinets, bass clarinet, two bassoons, contrabassoon, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, timpani, three percussionists, and strings.