Episode 3
Donald Macleod explores the impact on Myaskovsky's music of the First World War and the changing social and political mood in Russia.
Donald Macleod traces Myaskovsky's time serving as an army officer in the First World War, during which he composed his fourth and fifth symphonies. Shell shock, and the horrors of war would greatly influence Myaskovsky, who subsequently suffered a breakdown. His music from this point starts to incorporate aspects of political and social change in Soviet Russia, with his Fourth Piano sonata featuring angry clashes and dissonance.
During this period of change, Myaskovsky's father is torn to pieces by a revolutionary mob, and his aunt also later dies. Myaskovsky pours his feelings into his Sixth Symphony, combining French revolutionary themes with images of the migration of the soul from the body.
Romance (You are leaving for the wars), Op 40 No 8 (1935-6)
Mary King (mezzo-soprano)
Andrew Ball (piano)
成人快手 Recording
Symphony No 5 in D, Op 18 (1918) - 1st mvt
Russian Federation Academic Symphony Orchestra
Evgeny Svetlanov (conductor)
Olympia OCD735 Tr 1
Piano Sonata No 4 in C minor, Op 27 (1924-5) - 1st mvt
Murray McLachlan (piano)
Regis RRC1245 Tr 1
Symphony No 6 in E flat minor, Op 23 (1921-3) - 4th mvt
Gothenburg Symphony Chorus and Orchestra
Neeme Jarvi (conductor)
DG 4716552 Tr 4.
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
Nikolai Yakovlevich Myaskovsky
Romance (You are leaving for the wars), Op 40 No 8 (1935-6)
Performer: Mary King (mezzo-soprano) Performer: Andrew Ball (piano)
- 成人快手 Recording.
-
![]()
Nikolai Yakovlevich Myaskovsky
Symphony No 5 in D, Op 18 (1918) - 1st mvt
Performer: Russian Federation Academic Symphony Orchestra Performer: Evgeny Svetlanov (conductor)
- Olympia OCD735.
-
![]()
Nikolai Yakovlevich Myaskovsky
Piano Sonata No 4 in C minor, Op 27 (1924-5) - 1st mvt
Performer: Murray McLachlan (piano)
- Regis RRC1245.
-
![]()
Nikolai Yakovlevich Myaskovsky
Symphony No 6 in E flat minor, Op 23 (1921-3) - 4th mvt
Performer: Gothenburg Symphony Chorus and Orchestra Performer: Neeme Jarvi (conductor)
- DG 4716552.
Broadcast
- Wed 26 Aug 2009 12:00成人快手 Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.