Sergei Prokofiev's Symphonic Song (Russian: Симфоническая песнь), Op. 57, was written in 1933. It's a work demonstrating Prokofiev's transition from Parisian modernism to Soviet lyricism. Prokofiev had described of it as "a serious piece of work, and I took great care in choosing the thematic material. It consists of three closely integrated parts."
Although there is no programme, the mood of the three parts might be defined as:
Darkness: A dark and gloomy theme emerges. Crushing brass chords and eerie string sonorities add tension to the music.
Struggle: The music becomes livelier, but there are still occasional dissonant outbursts.
Achievement: A lyrical melody soars freely, and the music ends in ecstatic triumph.
The work lasts around 13 minutes, and is in one continuous movement.
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate
- Instrumentation:
- Picc, 2Fl, 2Ob, CA, 2Cl, Bcl, 2Bsn, Cbsn, 4Hn, 3Tpt, 3Tbn, Tba, Timp, Perc(2), Strings
- Duration:
- 13-16 minutes
- Set of Parts:
- Includes Strings count 4.4.3.3.2
- Extra Strings:
- Only available with the purchase of the Set of Parts