Symphony No. 1

USSR Ministry of Culture Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gennady Rozhdestvensky I - Lento ma non troppo - Allegro: 0:00 II - Larghetto quasi andante: 17:21 III - Allegro assai e molto risoluto: 31:01 Myaskovksy's first symphony was composed in 1908, while he was studying at the Conservatory, finishing it in September. It premiered on June 2, 1914 in Pavlovsk. Due to a suggestion from his friend Prokofiev, he revised the work, which because of the war, did not end until 1921. The first movement begins with a slow introduction, which is born from the basses of the orchestra with an anguished and nostalgic theme. The atmosphere becomes more dramatic until it reaches an intense climax, and then it loses intensity. Then the Allegro begins with a nervous theme, being the second one more lyrical, characteristic of the Russian school. After the development section, in which the contrasts between lyricism and dramatic force continue, it ends with the recapitulation of the second theme, which tragically leads us to a solemn coda. A movement of great strength, following the tradition of Russian music. The second movement contains a broad and expansive theme, presented by the strings in a romantic way. The atmosphere becomes more passionate reaching its climax. Then the music returns to the tranquility of the beginning, dissolving the theme in silence. The third and last movement presents us a rhythmic theme in the form of a march, contrasting with the second most lyrical of Russian atmosphere. After repeated exposure, the development is based especially on the rhythmic theme. A brief recapitulation ends with a decisive coda. A work that denotes the influence of his teachers, among them Glazunov. The immediate consequence of this work in the life of Miaskovsky was to have Glazunov grant him a scholarship so that he could continue his musical studies. In 1911 he graduated, upon finishing his stay at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. Among his fellow student friends was one who would be a great composer, Sergei Prokofiev. They presented their first works in the same concerts. Another of his companions was Boris Asafiev who devoted himself to criticism and musicology. Sources from this spanish website on Myaskovksy symphonism: http://www.historiadelasinfonia.es/naciones/la-sinfonia-en-rusia/miaskovsky/