Domra and Chamber Orchestra in Concertos by Igor Rogalyov and Andrey Tikhomirov. An Alliance with a “Stranger”?

Статья посвящена сочинениям известных петербургских композиторов — Концерту «Доменико Скарлатти» для четырехструнной домры (мандолины) и камерного оркестра Игоря Ефимовича Рогалёва и Концерту для домры и камерно-симфонического оркестра Андрея Генриховича Тихомирова. Эти произведения представляют примеры взаимодействия сфер народно-инструментального исполнительства и академического музыкального искусства. Ранее данная проблема не рассматривалась в отечественном музыкознании. Появление в последней четверти XX века сочинений, в которых домра выступает в качестве солиста с симфоническим оркестром, в значительной мере способствовало расширению ее выразительных возможностей, а также становлению и развитию нового направления в домровом репертуаре. Основными позициями сравнительного анализа концертов И. Е. Рогалёва и А. Г. Тихомирова стали трактовка роли солирующей домры, различия в композиции и драматургии названных сочинений. Отдельное внимание уделяется вопросам исполнительской интерпретации. Автором статьи приведены нотные примеры, иллюстрирующие наиболее важные с его точки зрения идеи и положения. The article is devoted to the works of famous St. Petersburg composers — Concerto Domenico Scarlatti for four-string domra (mandolin) and chamber orchestra by Igor Ye. Rogalyov and Concerto for domra and chamber symphony orchestra by Andrey G. Tikhomirov. These works are examples of interaction of the spheres of folk-instrumental performance and academic musical art. Previously, this problem was not considered in Russian musicology. In the last quarter of the 20th century, compositions appeared, where domra acts as a soloist with a symphony orchestra, which to a large extent contributed to expansion of its expressive capabilities, as well as formation and development of a new direction in the domra repertoire. The main positions of the comparative analysis of the Rogalyov’s and Tikhomirov’s concertos were: interpretation of the solo domra’s role, differences in the composition and dramaturgy of the above works. Special attention is paid to the issues of performing interpretation. The author of the article proposes musical examples illustrating the most important ideas and provisions from her point of view.

Հայոց ցեղասպանության արձագանքները կոմպոզիտոր Արամ Սաթյանի ստեղծագործության մեջ

Aram Satyan addressed the issue of the Armenian Genocide in the 21st century by composing “Chinar es[Slim Like a Poplar]” for duduk and symphony orchestra, and “1915” for duduk, chamber orchestra and kettledrums. Both pieces feature the duduk as soloist. The composer intertwined in a masterly manner the timbre of the Armenian folk instrument with the sound of a symphony orchestra, in one case, and a chamber orchestra with kettledrums – in another. Incidentally, the composer had not shown any interest in duduk in his earlier works. Obviously, in the timbre dramaturgy of the composer, duduk associates with the Armenian Genocide, with the suffering and tragic pages in the history of the Armenian people.By concluding his “1915” with the intonations of “Hovareq [Cast a Shade]” (in our opinion, in the lyrics of the song, the ‘indifference’ of the mountains may be perceived as the lack of empathy the world communityhad shown toward the tragedy ofArmenians), rather than with the lively intonations of “Yerkingnampel e [The Skies Are Overcast]”, communicating the idea of inventive and peaceful nature of the Armenian people, A. Satyan must have had the presentiment of the 44-Day War of 2020, when the world once again remained unresponsive to the woes of Armenians. Therefore, we dedicate this article to the 44-Day Warheroes, the memories of whom will never fade.

Workers’ access to Swedish opera houses and concert halls, 1898–2019

In this study ticket prices to Swedish opera houses and symphony orchestra concerts are compared to wages during the 1898–2019 period. Both wages and ticket prices have increased continuously. The same kind of policy objectives concerning social inclusion of disadvantaged groups that were established in the beginning of the twentieth century is still proclaimed. The most favourable ticket pricing policies for buyers were used in the decades around the first national Cultural Policy Act from 1974. The study shows that ticket price levels have risen thereafter to a level much less favourable for low-income workers. Managements do use some price discrimination tactics. However, they do it uniformly for all events. They now focus on the promotion of special, ‘popular music’-based events as a response to social inclusion directives. The idea is that attending such performances will make visitors interested in the normal repertoire, as well. The choice of high-level ticket prices for the traditional content means that the standard audience remains monocultural.

Dohnányi's Orchestrations of Schubert's Fantasy in F Minor and the Moments musicaux Piano Cycle

Ernst von Dohnányi's brilliant instrumentation skills were already recognized by his contemporaries. His former disciple and first monographer Bálint Vázsonyi published an anecdote, according to which Béla Bartók considered the orchestral version of Ruralia hungarica (op. 32) as the first truly “orchestrated” Hungarian symphonic work. Nevertheless, neither Dohnányi's own orchestration practices nor the transcriptions he prepared for symphony orchestra from the works of other composers have been studied. This paper examines two of these orchestrations, made in 1928 on the occasion of the Schubert Centenary – Dohnányi's orchestral transcriptions of the Fantasy in F Minor, originally written for piano four hands, and the piano cycle Moments musicaux – both being virtually unknown to the public. The analysis also provides an insight into Dohnányi's interpretation of Schubert, including his approach to the Austrian composer.

Re-inventing and Re-shaping the Symphony Orchestra for Sustainability

The performing arts industry has always been an ever-evolving industry due to the creative nature of this industry. Although the symphony orchestra has not seen much physical dramatic changes since perhaps the late 1800’s, current events worldwide such as the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the economic uncertainty as well as technological advancements has seen the operations of many symphony orchestras hitting the pause button, many unsure if the orchestra might resume their operations. Symphony orchestras worldwide are forced to come out with various ideas to re-invent and re-shape itself. This paper aims to examine the possibilities of how a symphony orchestra, an institution that is heavily dependent on audiences filling up their concerts is re-inventing itself in order to sustain their very existence. Ongoing efforts such as digitalising ‘live’ concerts through digital platforms and other arising issues such as choice of technological equipment, cost and revenue as well as the perception of orchestral musicians and audiences of such re-invention and re-shaping of the symphony orchestra will be discussed. The findings from this paper may be used to further develop the ideas of re-invention and re-shaping symphony orchestras based on the demands and needs of each individual orchestra.

Film Music in Concert

The Boston Pops Orchestra was the first orchestra of its kind in the USA: founded in 1885 from the ranks of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, its remit was to offer concerts of light symphonic music. Over the years, and in particular during the fifty-year tenure of its most famous conductor, Arthur Fiedler, the Pops established itself as the premier US orchestra specialising in bridging the fields of 'art music' and 'popular music'. When the Hollywood composer John Williams was assigned the conductorship of the orchestra in 1980, he energetically advocated for the inclusion of film-music repertoire, changing Fiedler's approach significantly. This Element offers a historical survey of the pioneering agency that the Boston Pops had under Williams's tenure in the legitimisation of film music as a viable repertoire for concert programmes. The case study is complemented with more general discussions on the aesthetic of film music in concert.