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While
Symbolon is not a programmatic or narrative work, I am certain that it was inspired by its circumstances. From the beginning I knew that the piece would receive its first performance in the Soviet Union, and I found this profoundly moving. I am sure that my complex feelings, embracing both hope
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It works very well as absolute music, filled with emotion of a less specific nature and structural logic that carries itself in the ear. It's mostly vigorous (with lyrical episodes emphasizing soloistic coloration) and quite varied within its 16-minute duration. It left me wanting to hear it again
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is invoked in counterpoint to typical
American sounds. Gradually, optimism takes over, and the work ends in heartwarming conciliation. Though Zwilich uses an elaborate orchestral lineup, the instrumentation is at all times transparent and never oppressive. On one hearing, Symbolon made a positive
163:, which, the composer wrote, "refers to the ancient custom whereby two parties broke a piece of pottery (or a stone, or a coin) in two, each party retaining half. Each half (or 'symbolon') thus became a token of friendship as well as proof of identity of the bearer." She added:
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The word symbolon is basically a Greek term meaning token of friendship, and no doubt glasnost was on
Zwilich's mind when she wrote this 16-minute tone poem. There's a good deal of conflict in its opening pages intriguingly,
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wrote, "The 15-minute score, which had its world premiere in
Leningrad under Mr. Mehta during the Philharmonic's recent tour of the Soviet Union, is a true creature of its century, often glancing at
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264:(whose ostinatos haunt it). This is a forceful, listenable piece, with rich, transparently orchestrated sonorities that occasionally suggest such recent composers as
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on June 1, 1988. It was the first piece of
American orchestral music to be premiered in the Soviet Union.
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and has a performance duration of approximately 16 minutes. The title comes from the Greek word for
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and sadness about the state of the political world, have found their way into this work.
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has been generally praised by music critics. Reviewing the United States premiere in
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not immediately, but perhaps a few weeks hence, to further absorb its beauties
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Croan, Robert (April 17, 1998). "Symphony performance runs cold and hot".
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393:"Festival Review/Music; 20th-Century Program By the Philharmonic"
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The music is written for a large orchestra consisting of three
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and was completed on
January 8, 1988. It is dedicated to
415:(June 15, 1988). "A Classical Token of Friendship".
362:"Toledo Symphony has big plans for the coming year"
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679:Music commissioned by the New York Philharmonic
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360:F. Anthony, Wayne (February 3, 2018).
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664:Compositions by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
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295:Reviewing a 1998 performance by the
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442:. John Robinson Block. p. 23.
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124:written by the American composer
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16:Composition for orchestra
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302:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
299:, Robert Croan of the
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72:June 1, 1988
332:Zwilich, Ellen Taaffe
282:similarly remarked, "
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130:New York Philharmonic
120:is a composition for
108:New York Philharmonic
480:Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
155:is cast in a single
126:Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
33:Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
31:Orchestral music by
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588:Millennium Fantasy
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398:The New York Times
249:The New York Times
669:1988 compositions
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595:Clarinet Concerto
566:American Concerto
391:(June 15, 1988).
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371:. Retrieved
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343:. Retrieved
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305:observed, "
148:Composition
138:Zubin Mehta
98:Zubin Mehta
58:Zubin Mehta
658:Categories
336:"Symbolon"
314:References
290:impression
262:Stravinsky
217:percussion
104:Performers
76:1988-06-01
54:Dedication
534:Concertos
373:August 6,
367:The Blade
345:August 4,
231:Reception
205:trombones
189:clarinets
142:Leningrad
122:orchestra
94:Conductor
88:Leningrad
645:Category
627:Symbolon
487:Symphony
334:(1988).
266:Messiaen
236:Symbolon
203:, three
201:trumpets
199:, three
193:bassoons
191:, three
183:, three
157:movement
153:Symbolon
117:Symbolon
84:Location
64:Premiere
39:Composed
25:Symbolon
276:of the
258:Strauss
225:strings
213:timpani
195:, four
187:, four
74: (
44: (
630:(1988)
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270:Carter
254:Bartok
223:, and
181:flutes
161:symbol
197:horns
185:oboes
375:2020
347:2020
260:and
221:harp
209:tuba
69:Date
46:1988
42:1988
310:."
292:."
272:."
268:or
246:of
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321:^
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219:,
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472:e
465:t
458:v
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78:)
48:)
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