서울시립교향악단, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra

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2023 SPO Chamber Series V: Czech Composers

SCHEDULE: Sat. 16 December 2023, 17:00

PLACE: The Chamber Hall, Sejong Center

CONDUCTOR: David Yi

PROGRAM: Martinů, Partita for String Orchestra, H.212; Suk, Serenade for Strings in E flat major, Op. 6
more; Dvořák, Serenade for String Orchestra in E major, Op. 22
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PRICE: R 50,000 S 30,000 A 10,000

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※ Please do not applaud between the movements.

2023 SPO Chamber Series V: Czech Composers

Saturday, 16th December, 2023 5PM Sejong Chamber Hall

David Yi, conductor

1st Violin_Juyeong Moon, Sungyong Ueom, Sangmee Huh, Eugene Yang, Hyunsoo Ko, Roomee Du, Minjung Kim, Haesung Choe
2nd Violin_Sooyoung Kim, Jiwon Kim, Seungran Kwak, Jooeun Lee, Mikyung Kim, Hyemi Lee
Viola_Yunji Kang, Sungeun Kim, Yejin Kim, Minkyung Sung, Hyungeun Lee, Anton Kang
Cello_Hein Choe, Sohee Chang, Hyejae Lee, Muil Park

Double Bass_Jinchul Kim, Mina Han

PROGRAM

Martinů, Partita for String Orchestra, H.212
Poco Allegro

Moderato

Andante moderato

Poco Allegretto

Suk, Serenade for Strings in E flat major, Op. 6
Andante con moto

Allegro ma non troppo e grazioso

Adagio

Allegro giocoso, ma non troppo presto

------------ intermission 15 mins -----------------

Dvořák, Serenade for String Orchestra in E major, Op. 22
Moderato

Tempo di Valse, Trio. Allegro con moto

Scherzo. Vivace

Larghetto

Finale. Allegro vivace

Total duration approximately 90min(incl. intermission)

Bohuslav Martinů(1890-1959), Partita for String Orchestra, H. 212(1931)

Bohuslav Martinů studied under Josef Suk at the Prague Conservatory, but could not put up with the atmosphere of late romanticism that dominated the Czech music scene at the time and decided to move to France. His stay in France, which had been meant to be for only a few weeks, eventually lasted seventeen years until Martinů moved to the United States in 1940 to escape the Nazis. After the World War II was over, the liberated homeland offered him a professorship at the Prague Conservatory, but Martinů could not accept the offer and died without being able to return to his homeland.

His music is evaluated as transforming Czech folk elements, adding the influence of French neoclassical music and the composer's own idiom (especially his peculiar harmonic progressions). 'Partita', or 'Suite No. 1', is a piece written in 1931 when Martinů was in Paris. Consisting of four movements, it is a neobaroque work that stands out for the lively and bright lyricism and the momentum of its incessantly moving rhythm.

instrumentation
strings

Josef Suk(1874-1935), Serenade for Strings in E-flat major, Op. 6(1892)

Josef Suk, who was Dvořák􏘧s favorite pupil and son-in-law, followed in his teacher's footsteps to become one of the leading composers in the Czech music scene. When the summer of 1892 was nearing its end, Dvořák, who was teaching composition at the Prague Conservatory, noticed that many of Suk􏘧s works were sentimental and recommended to him: "It's summer time now. You've written enough works in minor keys, so now try to balance it out by writing something lively to change the mood." The piece Suk wrote in response to the advice of his teacher is Serenade for String Orchestra (sometimes called 'Serenade for Strings' or 'String Serenade' in short).

This piece consists of four movements, two of which were performed publicly under the baton of the composer himself at the end of 1893. The first full-length premiere took place at the Prague Conservatory on February 25, 1895, conducted by Antonín Bennewitz, a professor at the conservatory who taught Suk the violin. This relatively bright and uncomplicated work brought Suk substantial fame, and Johannes Brahms, who had learned about the piece through his close friend Dvořák, arranged its publication.

instrumentation
strings

Antonín Dvořák(1841-1904), Serenade for String Orchestra in E major, Op. 22(1875)

Antonín Dvořák vigorously composed music while working as an organist at St. Vojtěch Church shortly after his marriage in 1873, but his income was so little that he could narrowly make ends meet. Then, he heard of a news that the Austrian government was running a state-funded scholarship system for 'young, poor, and talented painters, sculptors, and musicians'. He submitted several compositions to the scholarship committee, and was notified that the scholarship was awarded in February 1875.

Thanks to the scholarship, his income increased several times, and a more stable life enabled him to produce works at an amazing speed. In March of the same year, he completed String Quintet in G major and Moravian Duets, and between May and June he wrote Trio in B flat major, Serenade for Strings, and Piano Quartet in D major, and in July he finished Symphony No. 5 in F major.

Serenade for Strings shows the influence of Johannes Brahms, whom Dvořák deeply admired and who greatly helped him (Brahms was one of the judges for the scholarship, and he highly valued Dvořák's talent and introduced him to the Simlock publishing house with which he himself was dealing). This is especially true in that it has a rich yet clear structure. It also shows the composer􏘧s own individuality and the influence of Czech folk music.

instrumentation
strings

Text by Jingyu Hwang / Translation SukHo Lee