Mendelssohn Symphony No. 4, "Italian"

Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast

Joshua Weilerstein

Clarinet, Timpani, Performing, Trombone, Cello, Trumpet, Bassoon, Classicalmusic, Performing Arts, Arts, Violin, Flute, Piano, Conductor, Music, Weilerstein

4.9 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 23 June 2022

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How does a composer capture the spirit of a country, especially if it's not his native land? Mendelssohn, in his Italian Symphony, gives us one of the best examples of someone doing just that, giving us a tightly integrated, yet highly independent set of 4 snapshots from his travels all over Italy. And yet, despite the piece being called the Italian Symphony and being indelibly associated with the country, the symphony remains a relatively traditional 4 movement German classical symphony. What we hear then is a brilliant amalgamation of a symphony and a tone poem that is among the first of its kind. The symphony tells no story, has no narrative, and yet, when we finish the breathless Tarantella that ends the piece, we feel like we’ve been flicking through a photo album of Felix’s vacation, smiling (mostly) all along the way. Today we’ll talk all about how Mendelssohn builds this symphony and how each movement captures such a distinctive character, while remaining Mendelssohnian to its core - kind, warm-hearted, and full of bubbling energy. Join us!

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to Sticky Notes, the Classical Music Podcast.
0:05.0	My name is Joshua Weylerstein, I'm a conductor, and I'm the Music Director of the Phoenix
0:08.7	Orchestra of Boston.
0:10.3	This podcast is for anyone who loves classical music, works in the field, or is just getting
0:14.6	ready to dive in to this amazing world of incredible music.
0:18.6	Before we get started, I want to thank my new Patreon sponsors, Tess, Isabella, Tim,
0:23.0	Christine, and all of my other Patreon sponsors from making Season 8 possible.
0:28.2	If you'd like to support the show, please head over to patreon.com slash Sticky Notes
0:32.0	Podcast.
0:33.3	And if you are a fan of the show, please just take a moment to give us a rating or review
0:36.2	on Apple Podcasts.
0:38.1	Every rating you review, I'll spend more people find the show, and it is greatly appreciated.
0:42.0	I'm recording this one a bit early this week because I am heading to Lozanne tomorrow
0:46.6	to work with the Lozanne Chamber Orchestra again on a very important concert, benefiting
0:51.3	the people of Ukraine.
0:53.4	In the meantime, I really hope you enjoy this episode on one of my favorite pieces, Mendelssohn's
0:57.9	Fourth Symphony.
1:17.1	How does a composer capture the spirit of a country, especially if it's not his native land?
1:22.8	Mendelssohn and his fourth Italian symphony gives us one of the best examples of someone
1:27.0	doing just that, giving us a tightly integrated yet highly independent set of four snapshots
1:33.6	from his travels all over Italy.
1:36.5	And yet, despite the piece being called the Italian symphony and being indelibly associated
	...

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