Lithuanian Rhapsody

Lithuanian Rhapsody (Polish Rapsodia litewska) in A minor, Op. 11 is the third of Mieczysław Karłowicz's six symphonic poems. A typical performance lasts 18—20 minutes.

History

Origins of the composition

The Lithuanian Rhapsody differs from the other of Karłowicz's symphonic poems in the way that it was not inspired by any narrative or philosophical concern. It is a highly personal work[1] and originates in the composer's own roots: he spent his early years in Lithuania (his family were Polish landowners).[1] Moreover, unlike other compositions by Karłowicz, the Rhapsody is based on actual folk material (Lithuanian and Belarusian melodies),[2] much of which was collected by the composer in 1900 while on vacation at his family estate.[2][3] This is how he wrote about the piece in a letter to his friend Adolf Chybiński (24 Nov 1906):[1][2][4][5]

I have tried to encapsulate within it the total grief, sadness and eternal servitude of that race whose songs I heard in my childhood... Whether or how much I have succeeded in instilling into the form of an orchestral work even just a particle of what hangs vanishing into the air in every part of that region, I am unable to judge.[6]

According to Leszek Polony, the leading Polish authority on Karłowicz, the Rhapsody had to do with "recollections of childhood, with the portrayal of the family home and children’s games".[2][4]

Composition and performance history

It was composed between April and November 1906.[1][2] While Karłowicz began working on it in Warsaw, he later moved to Zakopane. At the time he finished the Rhapsody, he was already residing in Leipzig.[1]

The first performance took place in Warsaw on 25[2][3] or 26[1][5] February 1909 under Grzegorz Fitelberg, shortly after Karłowicz's tragic death (8 February).[3] In 1910 or early 1911 a Gebethner and Wolff first edition was published by the Warsaw Music Society (plate G 4791 W).[2]

In later years the Rhapsody was heard in Polish concert halls of Warsaw, Kraków and Lviv, but also abroad: in Nice, Glasgow, Saint Petersburg and London. It was performed by several prominent conductors like Grzegorz Fitelberg, Emil Młynarski, Mieczysław Sołtys, Zdzisław Birnbaum, Henryk Opieński and José Lassalle.[5]

In 1923 a ballet with the music of this tone poem was staged at the Grand Theater of Poznań. In 1983 together with the Violin Concerto and some songs of Karłowicz the Rhapsody was included in a theatre play of Adam Hanuszkiewicz at the Grand Theatre of Łódź.[5]

Scoring

It is scored for three flutes, two oboes, English horn, two clarinets (B♭), bass clarinet (B♭), two bassoons, four horns (F), two trumpets (C), three trombones; timpani, triangle, cymbals and strings.

Structure

The Rhapsody is a sequence of loosely related five sections:[1][3][4][5]

Allegro ben moderato (A minor) —
Lento (C♯ minor) — Allegretto pastorale (E major) — Lento (C♯ minor) —
Andante tranquillo (D♭ major) —
Allegretto giocoso (F major) —
Tempo I (Allegro ben moderato)

Analysis

In this composition, Karłowicz used Russian formal models. They are essentially non-developmental and rely on harmonic, textural, colouristic and orchestral variation.[1][4] The sense of connectedness of the sections is made by occasional direct thematic links (the third and the fourth sections), more subtle allusions and the return of the opening material at the end.[1]

The work is based in A minor and its mediant-related keys. The outer sections draw on an incantatory three-note melody,[4] which is most likely an old Lithuanian harvest-time song Békit, bareliai[2] (there is a harmonization of it by Čiurlionis).

The second section is a lyric one containing pastoral elements (as there are two themes instead of one).[5] The theme of the third section is a popular Belarusian lullaby.[2] The fourth section uses a version of this, dancing and vigorous, resembling a Lithuanian song Mylu, mylu, mylu sung by children.[2] It leads to the whole work's climax.[4]

Recordings

References
  1. Paul Banks. Preface to a MPH edition
  2. Leszek Polony. Booklet notes to DUX 0132/0133
  3. Richard Whitehouse. Booklet notes to Naxos 8.570452.
  4. Alistair Wightman. Booklet notes to Chandos 209986.
  5. Iwanicka-Nijakowska, Anna (2009). "Mieczysław Karłowicz, "Rapsodia litewska"". Culture.pl. Retrieved June 8, 2017.)
  6. Translation by Alistair Wightman. Original text: "(...) wykończyłem kompozycję, którą nazwę prawdopodobnie 'Rapsodią litewską'. Starałem się zakląć w nią cały żal, smutek i niewolę wiekuistą tego ludu, którego pieśni w mym dzieciństwie brzmiały (...) Czy i o ile mi się udało choć z cząstkę tego, co wisi roztopione w powietrzu każdego kątka tych stron, wlać w formy utworu orkiestrowego, tego osądzić nie mogę." (cited from: Iwanicka-Nijakowska, Anna (2009). "Mieczysław Karłowicz, "Rapsodia litewska"". Culture.pl. Retrieved June 8, 2017.)
  7. Orkiestra Symfoniczna Filharmonii Śląskiej, "Mieczysław Karłowicz. Poematy symfoniczne"
  8. Catalogue entry at the Polish National Library
  9. Catalogue entry at the Polish National Library
  10. Warszawska Orkiestra Symfoniczna. It was composed of two opera orchestras of Warsaw Chamber Opera (cf. Orkiestra Symfoniczna Filharmonii Śląskiej, "Mieczysław Karłowicz. Poematy symfoniczne").
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