''Lithuanian Rhapsody'' (Polish ''Rapsodia litewska'') in
A minor, Op. 11 is the third of
Mieczysław Karłowicz's six
symphonic poems. A typical performance lasts 18—20 minutes.
History
Origins of the composition
The ''Lithuanian Rhapsody'' differs from the other of Karłowicz's symphonic poems in the way that it was not inspired by any narrative or philosophical concern. It is a highly personal work
and originates in the composer's own roots: he spent his early years in Lithuania (his family were Polish landowners).
Moreover, unlike other compositions by Karłowicz, the ''Rhapsody'' is based on actual folk material (Lithuanian and
Belarus
Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...
ian melodies),
much of which was collected by the composer in 1900 while on vacation at his family estate.
This is how he wrote about the piece in a letter to his friend
Adolf Chybiński (24 Nov 1906):
According to
Leszek Polony, the leading Polish authority on Karłowicz, the ''Rhapsody'' had to do with "recollections of childhood, with the portrayal of the family home and children’s games".
[Alistair Wightman. ]
Booklet notes
' to Chando
209986
Composition and performance history
It was composed between April and November 1906.
[Paul Banks]
to a MPH edition[ Leszek Polony. ''Booklet notes to'' DUX 0132/0133] While Karłowicz began working on it in
Warsaw
Warsaw, officially the Capital City of Warsaw, is the capital and List of cities and towns in Poland, largest city of Poland. The metropolis stands on the Vistula, River Vistula in east-central Poland. Its population is officially estimated at ...
, he later moved to
Zakopane. At the time he finished the ''Rhapsody'', he was already residing in
Leipzig
Leipzig (, ; ; Upper Saxon: ; ) is the most populous city in the States of Germany, German state of Saxony. The city has a population of 628,718 inhabitants as of 2023. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, eighth-largest city in Ge ...
.
The first performance took place in Warsaw on 25
or 26
[)] February 1909 under
Grzegorz Fitelberg, shortly after Karłowicz's tragic death (8 February).
[Richard Whitehouse. ]
Booklet notes
to'' Naxo
8.570452
In 1910 or early 1911 a
Gebethner and Wolff first edition was published by the
Warsaw Music Society (plate ''G 4791 W'').
In later years the ''Rhapsody'' was heard in Polish concert halls of Warsaw,
Kraków
, officially the Royal Capital City of Kraków, is the List of cities and towns in Poland, second-largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in Lesser Poland Voivodeship, the city has a population of 804,237 ...
and
Lviv
Lviv ( or ; ; ; see #Names and symbols, below for other names) is the largest city in western Ukraine, as well as the List of cities in Ukraine, fifth-largest city in Ukraine, with a population of It serves as the administrative centre of ...
, but also abroad: in
Nice,
Glasgow
Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...
,
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg, formerly known as Petrograd and later Leningrad, is the List of cities and towns in Russia by population, second-largest city in Russia after Moscow. It is situated on the Neva, River Neva, at the head of the Gulf of Finland ...
and
London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
. It was performed by several prominent conductors like Grzegorz Fitelberg,
Emil Młynarski,
Mieczysław Sołtys,
Zdzisław Birnbaum,
Henryk Opieński and
José Lassalle.
In 1923 a ballet with the music of this tone poem was staged at the Grand Theater of
Poznań
Poznań ( ) is a city on the Warta, River Warta in west Poland, within the Greater Poland region. The city is an important cultural and business center and one of Poland's most populous regions with many regional customs such as Saint John's ...
. In 1983 together with the
Violin Concerto and some songs of Karłowicz the ''Rhapsody'' was included in a theatre play of
Adam Hanuszkiewicz at the Grand Theatre of
Łódź
Łódź is a city in central Poland and a former industrial centre. It is the capital of Łódź Voivodeship, and is located south-west of Warsaw. Łódź has a population of 655,279, making it the country's List of cities and towns in Polan ...
.
Scoring
It is scored for three flutes, two oboes, English horn, two clarinets (B♭), bass clarinet (B♭), two bassoons, four horns (F), two trumpets (C), three trombones; timpani, triangle, cymbals and strings.
Structure
The ''Rhapsody'' is a sequence of loosely related five sections:
:Allegro ben moderato (
A minor) —
:Lento (
C♯ minor) — Allegretto pastorale (
E major
E major is a major scale based on E, consisting of the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has four sharps. Its relative minor is C-sharp minor and its parallel minor is E minor. Its enharmonic equivalent, F-flat maj ...
) — Lento (C♯ minor) —
:Andante tranquillo (
D♭ major) —
:Allegretto giocoso (
F major) —
:Tempo I (Allegro ben moderato)
Analysis
In this composition, Karłowicz used Russian formal models. They are essentially non-developmental and rely on harmonic, textural, colouristic and orchestral variation.
The sense of connectedness of the sections is made by occasional direct thematic links (the third and the fourth sections), more subtle allusions and the return of the opening material at the end.
The work is based in A minor and its mediant-related keys. The outer sections draw on an incantatory three-note melody,
which is most likely an old
Lithuania
Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, P ...
n harvest-time song ''Békit, bareliai''
(there is a harmonization of it by
Čiurlionis).
The second section is a lyric one containing pastoral elements (as there are two themes instead of one).
The theme of the third section is a popular
Belarus
Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...
ian lullaby.
The fourth section uses a version of this, dancing and vigorous, resembling a Lithuanian song ''Mylu, mylu, mylu'' sung by children.
It leads to the whole work's climax.
Recordings
* (first rec.)
,
Tadeusz Mazurkiewicz – (LP, 1934)
Columbia Records DMX 260-261
*
Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra,
Witold Rowicki – (LP, 1956/1958
)
Polskie Nagrania Muzabr>
XL 0006 (CD, 1999)
Polskie Nagrania Muza PNCD 473 A/B
*
Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra,
Stanisław Wisłocki – (LP, 1966
/1970)
Polskie Nagrania Muzabr>
XL 0290* (rec. 1981 or 1983)
Silesian Philharmonic,
Jerzy Salwarowski – (LP, 1984)
Wifon 064; (CD, 1989)
Le Chant du Monde LDC 278 966-967; (CD, 1999, 2008) DU
132/133* (live rec. 1996) Warsaw Symphony Orchestra,
[Warszawska Orkiestra Symfoniczna. It was composed of two opera orchestras of Warsaw Chamber Opera (cf]
''Orkiestra Symfoniczna Filharmonii Śląskiej, "Mieczysław Karłowicz. Poematy symfoniczne"''
. Jacek Kaspszyk – (1997) Pro Musica Camerata PMC 013/14
* (rec. 2001)
BBC Philharmonic,
Yan Pascal Tortelier –
Chandosbr>
209986* (rec. 2006)
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra,
Antoni Wit –
Naxosbr>
8.570452* (rec. 2015)
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,
Grzegorz Nowak RPO SP 52* (rec. 2016)
Szczecin Philharmonic,
Łukasz Borowicz – DU
1377
References
External links
* {{IMSLP, work=Rapsodia litewska, Op.11 (Karłowicz, Mieczysław), cname=Lithuanian Rhapsody, Op.11
Symphonic poems by Mieczysław Karłowicz
1906 compositions
Compositions in A minor