EDA KERSEY (Violin)
THE WIRELESS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Leader, S. KNEALE KELLEY
Conducted by AYLMER BUESST
(Conducted by the COMPOSER)
THE four movements of this suite are ' Impressions' on poems by Theophile Gautier , and extracts from the poems stand at the head of the four movements.
The first movement is : Summer, ' Lovely is the country in summer; all Nature rejoices and each virginal flower bids one good-day with its friendly nodding head.'
Autumn, 'Not a leaf stirs, not one bird sings; far on the evening horizon summer lightning vibrates.'
Winter, ' The bird has fled, the leaf has fallen, love is dead because it is winter. Little bird, come and sing above my tomb when the trees are once more green.'
Spring, 'Spring is returning ; the first of . the roses, half-opened, laughs at the first day of sun. The happy earth opens and all things rejoice.'
AFTER three introductory chords, the notes of which must be borne in mind as forming a kind of ' motto,' the first theme enters at the third bar, a soaring tune which flows along irresistibly. The theme is set forth in Brahms' massive and important vein, and only after a lengthy elaboration of it does the second theme appear—another flowing melody with more of sprightliness in its character.
There are two main themes in the slow movement, the first of which, beginning on the woodwinds, forma the basis for free variations very much after the manner of Beethoven's slow movements. The other theme appears first on clarinet and bassoon, but its place in the movements has not the importance given to the first.
In place of the customary schprzo, the third movement is a delicate and rather grey-toned Allegretto in the unexpected key of C Minor. It is so far a Scherzo in form that there is a section corresponding to the usual ' Trio;' it is entrusted mainly to the woodwinds.
The first principal theme of the last move. ment is heard at the opening very softly, on strings and bassoons, and afterwards appears in a more elaborate form Then the strings and the winds together give us a new and solemn theme in A Flat Major, the second main subject, in C Minor, growing out of this in the most natural way. It is a joyous theme, played by Horns and 'Cellos in unison, afterwards by the violins and woodwinds. There is still one other important theme with a characteristic syncopated accompaniment. The movement is elaborated with great resource and much freedom, and at the close, listeners will hear a hint of the motto from the beginning of the first movement, as well as a reminder of its first subject.