music to the image of “ a toyshop , with a cloudless sky above .” The opening Allegretto captures that effervescent and mechanical mood , using sparse textures and prominent solos to create a taut and dry sound world , enlivened by snippets of William Tell . The slow movement counters with a funereal mood , beginning with a solemn chorale and progressing through elegiac solos to a ghoulish march .
The quick , scherzo-like third movement includes a motive that appears in many of Shostakovich ’ s late works , most famously the Eighth String Quartet : his musical “ signature ,” the notes D – S – C – H , representing the German spelling of his name , D . Schostakowitsch . ( In English parlance , we know “ S ” as E-flat , and “ H ” as B- natural .) The fourth movement includes another famous musical signature , B – A – C – H ( where “ B ” represents B-flat ), along with tips of the hat to Wagner and Glinka and another self-quotation , this one from the Symphony No . 7 (“ Leningrad ”). This symphonic swan song broadens into fragile textures and haunting clockworks at the end , defying the expectation of a heroic arrival .
Instrumentation Two flutes , piccolo , two oboes , two clarinets , two bassoons , four horns , two trumpets , three trombones , tuba , timpani , percussion , celeste , and strings .
Musical Terms Triads : A chord made up of three tones : the root , third , and fifth . Largo : A musical tempo : broadly , or slowly . Allegretto : A musical tempo : fairly brisk . Scherzo : Translates to “ a joke .” The scherzo is often the fast , third movement of a larger work , followed by a more gentle section called the trio . The scherzo is then repeated .
Please join us as we continue celebrating Maestro Robert Shafer ’ s Valedictory Season
GRANT US INSPIRATION
March 27 , 2022 | 4:00 p . m . Saint Luke Catholic Church , McLean , Virginia
Experience the world premiere of Robert Shafer ’ s new work , Super Flumina Babylonis , inspired by the impact of the coronavirus on musicians , paired with the comforting message of the Fauré Requiem .
GRANT US HUMANITY
June 26 , 2022 | 5:00 p . m . Washington National Cathedral
Don ’ t miss Maestro Shafer ’ s final concert as Artistic Director of the City Choir of Washington , as he conducts Ein deutsches Requiem — described by Brahms as his “ human ” Requiem — in the grandeur of Washington National Cathedral .
Purchase Tickets at CityChoir . org
MAR-APR 2022 / OVERTURE 19