Symphony No. 4Note: Allan Stiles recommends not to use numbers for symphonies except for the first one. in C minor "The Pursuit of Happiness", Stiles 1.3.4.1 SyP,Allan Stiles
A Catalogue of the Music of Alfred Hill
/ref> was finished by Alfred Hill in 1954 or 1955.Keith Anderson.
Booklet notes
' t
Naxos 8.220345
/ref> Its first two movements were arranged from Hill's String Quartet No. 4 (1916), while the last one derives from the finale of his String Quartet No. 17 (1938; this whole quartet was later turned into the ''

Short Symphony The ''Short Symphony'', or Symphony No. 2, is a symphony written by the American composer Aaron Copland from 1931 to 1933. The name derives from the symphony's short length of only 15 minutes. The work is dedicated to Copland's friend, the Mexic ...

'', 1958). The symphony is dedicated "to my esteemed friend Henry Kripps",Catalogue entry for the manuscript of the symphony
/ref> a prominent Australian conductor. Its approximate duration is 20 minutes.

History

The manuscript score and parts of the symphony are preserved at the

National Library of Australia The National Library of Australia (NLA), formerly the Commonwealth National Library and Commonwealth Parliament Library, is the largest reference library in Australia, responsible under the terms of the ''National Library Act 1960'' for "mainta ...

. The score carries on the title page a

Bertrand Russell Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, (18 May 1872 – 2 February 1970) was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, and public intellectual. He had influence on mathematics, logic, set theory, and various areas of analytic ...

quotation: and an epigram by

William Morris William Morris (24 March 1834 – 3 October 1896) was an English textile designer, poet, artist, writer, and socialist activist associated with the British Arts and Crafts movement. He was a major contributor to the revival of traditiona ...

Instrumentation

The symphony is scored for a full orchestra.

Structure

Quiet unusual in Hill's output, this symphony has only three movements (like the ''

''). :I. The Search (

C minor C minor is a minor scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Its key signature consists of three flats. Its relative major is E major and its parallel major is C major. The C natural minor scale is: Cha ...

) :II. The Heart of man (

A-flat major A-flat major is a major scale based on A♭ (musical note), A, with the pitches A, B♭ (musical note), B, C (musical note), C, D♭ (musical note), D, E♭ (musical note), E, F (musical note), F, and G (musical note), G. Its key signature has fou ...

) :III. Finale. The Solution (C minor)

Program

The original quartets had no program, but for the new symphony Hill wrote explanatory notes. They were transferred in a type written sheet attached to the score. ''The Search''. The introductory ''Allegro'' represents the hazy country, the Kingdom of Happiness, shadowed by dreams. The first subject of the movement gropes in the dark for light that is always there, if unseen, with the second providing a glimpse of some impossible heaven. The coda suggests that the evening of life may bring joy. The second movement, ''The Heart of Man'', presents the heart of man as an exquisitely tender thing, with a second subject standing for human aspirations towards the highest goal. The Finale, ''The Solution'', suggests in its first subject that the great source of happiness is work, useful, creative and constructive. The second subject adds that work brings joy, followed by a chorale that proposes the idea that even the humblest form of work will make us thankful for the gift of life.

Analysis

The opening introduction to the first movement is remarkable for its dominant prolongation with a sense of tonal ambiguity (the so-called ''Tristan chord'' used in parallel motion). It contrasts with the clear tonality of the first subject. All this can be found already in the original 1916 quartet. At the end of the slow movement the composer added characteristic progressions of juxtaposed triads based on the relationship of the thirds. Such triads can also be found in the finales of the Symphony No. 6 and the Symphony No. 12. The addition of a magnificent brass apotheosis of the choral motive in the final movement forms extra 26 bars and shows the largest alternation from the original composition among all Hill's arranged symphonies for full orchestra.

Editions

The symphony remains unpublished.

Recordings

* (rec. 1983)

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) is an Australian orchestra based in Melbourne. The MSO is resident at Hamer Hall. The MSO has its own choir, the MSO Chorus, following integration with the Melbourne Chorale in 2008. The MSO relies on fun ...

, Wilfred Lehmann — (1985)

Marco Polo Marco Polo (; ; ; 8 January 1324) was a Republic of Venice, Venetian merchant, explorer and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. His travels are recorded in ''The Travels of Marco Polo'' (also known a ...

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(CD) / 6.220345 (LP)

References

External links

Naxos recording of the symphony
on Youtube {{Authority control Symphonies by Alfred Hill 1955 compositions Compositions in C minor