Pavel Haas: Sinfonia (1940/1941)

[@DavidA-ps1qr]

The intensity of the time it was written in is mirrored perfectly by some fascinating combinations of orchestration. A good work.

[@MrEdmundHarris]

Thank you very much indeed for uploading this - fascinating piece, would never have heard it otherwise!

[@WWIIBuff]

Beautiful

[@MegaCirse]

A marvelous and careful manipulation of materials inflamed by temperate spirit ... There are very few moments when the intensity of what is presented here is imposed at this level !

[@ancienbelge]

At 21:33 note the sarcastic quote from the Horst Wessel Song (the anthem of the NSDAP, y"sh)

[@Edvard1973]

Interesting is also the introduction of the old Hussite choral around 23:00

[@12corners]

The superbly measured and almost mono thematic first movement reveals its intrinsic humour as it progresses through the delicate logic of the second movement into the almost surreal tonality of the finale.Ternary form at its most exotic and memorable.

[@deekuehner8386]

When listening to a newly discovered composer for the first time, one is quick to compare styles and thematic elements with other composers. Listening to this first movement I think of Hindemith and Klezmer music. I am struck by great sadness at the thought that this composer never had the opportunity to hear his own compositions. I also struck by his sense of humor in the second movement and the range of emotions he displays throughout his music.

[@V1ct0_r1a]

Ce que ces tragiques années 40 ont fait de mieux.

[@amapolabilis4663]

Haas’s rhythmic irregularities may make for a few rough edges, but a genuine warmth and commitment shines through. Recommended.

[@Carovius]

Bellísima obra!!

[@andreykonovalov2324]

I love how austere it is

[@MedievalRichard]

Splendid stuff. MR

[@javiervivanco919]

Cozy darkness in this composer.thanks

[@stueystuey1962]

Magnificent. Extraordinarily serious and a wild farce, not to mention a wonderful piece of music. Germanic sturm und drang, Russian macabre, American jazz. A tradgedy to be categorized as entarte by those idiots, who then sealed their evil by murdering him and more than ten million others. A few escaped; most didnt.

[@brianhammer5107]

German influence? I think not. He was a Czech, and studied only under Czech/Jewish teachers.

[@jillybe1873]

​@@brianhammer5107he was in Vienna and studied under Schoenberg. Vienna school.

[@brianhammer5107]

@@jillybe1873 Pavel Haas?? " He studied composition at the Brno Conservatory in Janáček's masterclass (1920-22). He worked first in his father's business, then from 1935 as a private teacher of music theory, and finally taught music at the Jewish secondary in Brno. Haas took the style of Janáček as his starting point, and came closer to Janáček's compositional method than any of his other pupils. " - New Grove

[@brianhammer5107]

@@jillybe1873and per the Orel Foundation: " A compositional prodigy, Haas studied at the school of the Philharmonic in Brno until he was drafted into the Austrian army in 1917. He remained in Brno during that time, and in 1919 he began the serious study of composition at the Brno conservatory, working with Jan Kunc and Vilém Petrželka. Later (1920-22) he became a part of the master class of the conservatory led by Leoš Janáček. As one of the only cultural figures in Moravia to have achieved international success, it is impossible to overestimate Janáček's stature or his influence in Brno and Moravia more broadly. Although Haas clearly went in his own direction, Leoš Janáček's effect was profound. " - so, no, you are mistaken, jillybe1873.

[@FranzKaernBiederstedt]

At 16:56 starts a grotesque caricature of the Horst-Wessel-Lied, which was one of the Nazis most famous songs and has been forbidden in Germany since the downfall of the Third Reich. Obviously this Symphony deals with the developments in Germany in the 40s and seems to serve as a sign of protest against the Nazi-regime. Does anybody here perhaps know more about the circumstances under which this Symphony came to life?

[@fenrirwolf7238]

He wrote it when he was in Theresienstadt (he was jewish), it was one of the last pieces he composed before being transported to Auschwitz, where he was murdered. He could not finish the instrumentation, but he left the instructions in the piano manuscript, so it was not that hard to finish the instrumentation.

[@fenrirwolf7238]

The manuscripts are in the Moravian Museum in Brno, where most of the manuscripts of the pieces from him remain to this day

[@kuang-licheng402]

great

[@뚜두뚜두팬보이]

...and what an ending!

[@didiergaugain]

SUPERBE MUSIQUE

[@sashakingcrimson187]

💿💿💿💿

[@MrBohuslav]

So strange that there is something of Villa-Lobos' style in the first movement (not as a quotation, as for Chopin in the third movement)

[@steveegallo3384]

MrBohuslav -- Yes, I was just about remark the appearance of Chopin's Marche Funèbre at around 20:00.......

[@darrylschultz6479]

@@steveegallo3384 but-you decided against putting the remark on here coz you noticed you were already typing it?

[@steveegallo3384]

@@darrylschultz6479 -- No...Actually, I chose to Retract the remark owing to distraction by an ongoing police operation to evict a gang of Methodists from the crackhouse driveway abutting my fortress here in Aland Islands.

[@darrylschultz6479]

@@steveegallo3384 Ah yes, I suspected that may have been the reason...

[@brianhammer5107]

just coincidence - he never heard Villa-Lobos' music ...

[@thornlesser5492]

What is it like to have accomplished great and good things and to be thrown away as if you are worthless . Most peoples and nations have suffered through this . How could average people once given liberty to hurt (the other ) do so . It's happening in Syria has happened in Serbia and countless African nations . I wonder if roaches and rats and pigs and dogs and birds and doves would visit cruelty upon one another for sport . Anger or hunger ? Is this the worst animals " achieve " or do they have moments of wanton cruelty like insects that murder husbands after sex . Where does the impulse to kill from . It's self -hatred or world hatred - the feeling you or them has hurt me . Hurt people hurt people . So true so pithy ! hohoho . Ieeets merry xmas !

[@boneybone8123]

Pavel Haas killed by Nazis in a concentration camp. I can not comprehend how you're able to find this music and not be able to show the decency to research for a couple of minutes before laughing out loud and dismissing the statement above considering the seriousness of the subject. Take care of yourself.

[@steveegallo3384]

True.....and yet he's achieved Immortality in his music. We honor him by Enjoying and Studying his Music.....Greetings from San Agustinillo!

[@user-ob9zo9cr4c]

great