David Diamond was a great symphony composer. More than just the artistry and the aesthetics, I listen to his work as artifacts of American culture. This is a 1940 work. It communicates, in its first and third movements, American energy, effervescence, enormous confidence, but also its insouciance about dramatic world events. The second movement may be listened to as Diamond's own state of mind, his glance at something much bigger and consequential than non-interventionist America.
You don't have to listen long to appreciate the directness and force of this music. Clarity of expression. Unsentimental beauty. Nothing forced or fake about it. As always, Sergio, thanks for posting these hidden gems.
Amazing to hear how many American composers -Copland, Harris, and Diamond- just to name three great ones (and many great British counterparts) took the challenge of extending tonality without completely eschewing consonance and triadic harmony. Even the use of other vertical harmonic configurations (e.g. quartal) can sound consonant in their music. I suspect their compositional techniques stem more from the tonal revolutions set in motion by Debussy, Bartok, and Stravinsky -perhaps more than by those revolutions initiated by (or that flow from Wagner into) Strauss and Schoenberg.
My first hearing of this wonderful symphony. I only discovered DD a year or so ago and love his outstanding scores.
I have heard most of his symphonies but not this one. He had his voice from the very start it seems. Thanks for introducing this to me
Beautiful. David Diamond is a gem among American composers.
Yes indeed.
A very American symphony filled with unbounded energy and drive. Thks for the post.
Deep, grandiose symphony. This work should make up the repertoire of the great orchestras and Diamond should be remembered more.Thanks for sharing!
David Diamond was a great symphony composer. More than just the artistry and the aesthetics, I listen to his work as artifacts of American culture. This is a 1940 work. It communicates, in its first and third movements, American energy, effervescence, enormous confidence, but also its insouciance about dramatic world events. The second movement may be listened to as Diamond's own state of mind, his glance at something much bigger and consequential than non-interventionist America.
This energetic work deserves more attention, as well as the composer himself. Thanks for sharing!
You don't have to listen long to appreciate the directness and force of this music. Clarity of expression. Unsentimental beauty. Nothing forced or fake about it. As always, Sergio, thanks for posting these hidden gems.
Thank you.
very dynamic and wonderful symphony
delightful!
This is a beautiful symphony, totally American. The second movement could stand alone in its own right as an evocative tone poem.
Siempre es agradable escuchar la dinámica primer sinfonía de Diamond! Muchas gracias!
Amazing to hear how many American composers -Copland, Harris, and Diamond- just to name three great ones (and many great British counterparts) took the challenge of extending tonality without completely eschewing consonance and triadic harmony. Even the use of other vertical harmonic configurations (e.g. quartal) can sound consonant in their music. I suspect their compositional techniques stem more from the tonal revolutions set in motion by Debussy, Bartok, and Stravinsky -perhaps more than by those revolutions initiated by (or that flow from Wagner into) Strauss and Schoenberg.
thx for posting, great music
nice