The ages of music and the last summer meeting

August started with the last part of the chapter called SCHUMANN from ‘The ages of music’ project, begun by the ‘Mr. Ghe.Pastia’ Popular Athenaeum.

Therefore, on Tuesday, 3^rd of August, 6 o’clock, the Foreign Languages Centre was as usual the meeting place for those who, even though is holiday, have answered to our invitation.

The last past of Schumann’s auditions – presented by Mr. Liviu Topala – was dedicated to componistic creation called SYMPHONY.

As a form, symphony (symphonia) means ‘together’, the ancients giving this name to a singing in public group musicians. Also, the choirs who were singing in octave were called in Ancient Rome, symphonics. In a manuscript dating from the fifteen century discovered in Leipzig, this term is referred for indicating a musical instrumental composition. For the seventeenth century, the musical composition called commonly known as ‘symphony’ is an instrumental prelude of a lyric work, a genre developed at the same time in Italy, especially in Florence.

The author generation of this ‘gallant style’ from the eighteen century which will determine the transition to the classic style, includes several strong reactions regarding the aesthetics of baroque music. The basis of the symphony is made by Haydn, who created this musical genre in four parts in a well - defined form. The first part is really fast, the second part is favorable for the rare tempo, the third part is a form of minuet (dance) – for Haydn and Mozart – and the forth part is the closing part of musical ideas and of the exposed theme. This last part has either a sonata form, rondo (dance), where the theme is repeated and developed. Talking about the third part, Beethoven – the first romantic – comes up and changes from minuet to scherzo (joke) – making it much moving.

The symphony is a work in four parts written strictly for orchestra, Robert Schumann fulfilling his musical creation with this genre, (being more bounded) as his wife desired. Schumann’s symphonies are abounding in melody and color, being still less dense comparing to romantic symphonies.

There have been listened four symphonies, first – inspired from Beethoven’s symphonies – being exuberant and joyful and interpreted by the Symphonic Orchestra of Zurich, conducted by David Ziman. The second symphony full of harmony, in a warm and rare tempo has been presented in the beginning of the fourth meeting. The third symphony (being written by Schumann as the last one) was listened with a rare and very old videotape. This one was written as an order in 1850, when the Bishop of Koln, became Rhenish (Renania) after the name of his region. The last symphony is the most valued and has been built hardly by Schumann after four years of theory, audition and many studies.

The fourth symphony delighted the public because it was interpreted by the Symphonic Orchestra of Vienna, conducted by Leonard Bernstein. The great music man – conductor, composer, pianist and pedagogue, Leonard Bernstein is mostly know for his concerts – a lesson that made his appearances on the screen to be the most desirable and pleasant.

You are welcome on Tuesday, 14^th of September 2010, at 6 o’clock, same location, to meet with other composers who have made music an instrument good enough for your hearts.

Have a nice holiday! (referent Carmen Cazaciuc)

Article translated by Oana Zlatovici - volunteer