When the Thaw Comes: Spring Motifs in Romantic Symphonies
Spring has long been a timeless theme for composers. One of the most striking ways to capture this feeling was in the way it influenced symphonic music during the Romantic era, which spanned from roughly 1800-1910.
In this article we will examine some of the key pieces of music that express ideas associated with spring. We’ll look at several pieces by famous composers such as Tchaikovsky and Dvorak.
- Tchaikovsky – Spring Symphony (1876)
- Dvorak – From the House of the Dead Op 38 (1882-1890)
Tchaikovskis Spring Symphony No.1 in b minor op32
The first movement is titled ‘Vibrations’ and features a bright, clear melody that sets off like a bird singing, before the violin enters with some energetic virtuosic passages. Later it returns to this melody but in a different key and tempo.
Spring is come, and winter now doth sleep;
In me each part doth have its place
And I will teach you how all things begin,
That spring and summer’s life may never fade.-
– Act 4 Scene 1 of Shakespeares ‘As You Like It’
In the second movement, there is a beautiful slow melody that goes through several variations, each one getting faster than the last until it ends in fast allegro.
Dvorak – From the House of the Dead Op 38 (1882-1890)
Dvoraks piece uses an earlier Russian folk song from the 19th century. The melody is used at first as a theme, but later on it gets faster and more virtuosic.
In this movement we hear a number of Russian folk melodies and rhythms woven together in an interesting pattern. It starts with a beautiful solo violin melody and gradually builds up to a fast finale.
Conclusion
Spring has long been a popular theme for composers, especially during the Romantic era. The symphonies by Tchaikovsky and Dvorak are examples of how this was expressed in the music of the time.
These pieces show the composer’s skill at using melody to tell stories and evoke moods and emotions, as well as their ability to create a sense of movement through music – with fast passages and variations.
If you would like to learn more about these composers or their music there are many online resources available. Some recommended places to start are below.
Recommended Resources
* Online piano scores of the works mentioned in this article can be found here.
* A list of Tchaikovskis symphonies can be found here.
* More information about Dvorak’s music can be found here.