Symphony No.2 in C major - Joachim Raff

Orchestre de la Suisse Romande conducted by Neeme Järvi. I - Allegro: 0:00 II - Andante con moto: 12:31 III - Scherzo. Allegro vivace: 19:54 IV - Andante maestoso - Allegro con spirito - Più mosso: 25:25 Raff's Symphony No.2 was composed in 1866, being premiered on March 1 of 1867, performed by the Königliche Hofkapelle conducted by Wilhelm Jahn. It is the first of his two symphonies without descriptive elements, just pure music. It adopts the classical four-movement structure over the five-movement one of the first. After the great success of the first symphony, the second came at a time Raff was mending his relationship with Liszt, which had been broken over a decade ago after a very complicated collaboration between the two. Raff, dedicated to him his "De Profundis" which Liszt greatly appreciated. The Hungarian composer encouraged Raff to write more sacred music as he would do in the following years. The first movement is structured in a modified sonata form. It opens with a gallant and placid main theme, rising in a triumphal climax. The clarinet then presents a lyrical second theme, soon taken by strings. The development that follows is more rhythmic and passionate, culminating in an intense and opulent climax. The music at times slightly resembles that of Richard Strauss, who would appear several decades later. The recapitulation brings back the main themes, followed by a second development which grows more forceful and triumphant, leading us to a brilliant coda. The second movement is structured in ternary form. It begins with a lyrical but solemn main theme presented by strings and clarinet, hymn-like in its contours. It is then transformed in continuous variations as the music unfolds, which instruments and groups answering each other. The middle section opens with a very turbulent and passionate second theme, presented in an orchestral tutti. A march appears with fugal procedures, briefly culminating in a dissonant climax. It is answered by a triumphal climax on the main theme, which is soon recapitulation in its original form. A calm coda ends the movement. The third movement is a scherzo in ternary form. It opens with a rhythmic and lively main theme, resembling Hungarian folk music in its jagged and forceful rhythms. The trio presents a more pleasant and melodic second theme, introduced by woodwinds in a fast and pointillist manner. It is then taken by strings in a lyrical way.The scherzo is recapitulated in its entirety. A forceful coda ends the movement. The fourth movement is also written in a modified sonata form. It begins with a slow introduction of solemn tone, which seamlessly leads us to the main allegro. A rhythmic and noble main theme is presented, contrasted by a lyrical second one on strings. The development section is very dynamic and light, a "tour de force" of polyphonic by-play. Follows the recapitulation of the themes, which are subjected to a second development like in the first movement. A brilliant and triumphal coda ends the whole work. Picture: "The Stages of Life" (1835) by the German painter Caspar David Friedrich. Musical analysis mostly written by myself. Sources: https://bit.ly/3WoD7qA and https://bit.ly/3FFEDxF To check the score: https://bit.ly/3FYeRWT