Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara wrote his Symphony No. 3 (Op. 20) in 1959–60. Despite much of the material being derived from a twelve-tone row (after studying in Switzerland under Wladimir Vogel), the work remains tonal in character throughout. In fact, the romantic gestures of the symphony, the majestic use of brass (including Wagner Tubas), as well as the use of German tempo markings, owes much to the symphonies of Anton Bruckner, and the symphony has been termed by critics as neo-Brucknerian in style.
Movements A typical performance usually lasts around 30 minutes. The work is in four movements:
Analysis
Instrumentation
The symphony is scored for the following orchestra:https://www.nkoda.com/instrument?ref=ad1ea27d-4b43-49f2-9ccf-9c1d523c5dd6&page=1
Woodwinds 2 flutes 2 oboes
2 bassoons
Brass
4 Wagner tubas (2 Tenor Tuba in B, 2 Bass Tuba in F) 2 trumpets in B
1 tuba
Percussion timpani Strings violins I, II violas cellos double basses
Premiere Symphony No. 3 was premiered in Helsinki on 10 April 1962 by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Paavo Berglund.
Recordings OrchestraConductorRecord CompanyYear of RecordingFormatHelsinki Philharmonic OrchestraLeif SegerstamOndine Records2007CD/SACD hybridRoyal Scottish National OrchestraHannu LintuNaxos Records1997CDLeipzig Radio Symphony OrchestraMax PommerOndine Records1988CD
References