#fourth symphony

4th Symphony was the first work to bring Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) on international recognition. It was composed between 1914 and 1916, the threat of war made Carl think about a new music piece, where he wanted to express the idea that life, and the will to live, in all its driving force and resilience, is “inextinguishable“, hence the title. Elementary will to live What Nielsen meant can be…

Charles Ives, Symphony No. 4 Tonight, I saw a performance of this piece live. I have not smiled SO MUCH during an orchestra performance in a very long time. My face hurt afterwards because I was smiling so much. I laughed. I cried. I love this piece with my every breath. Please, if you haven't listened to this symphony before, do yourself a favor. Listen. Fun facts:

5 Conductors

4 Pianos

Solo Piano

Orchestra Piano

Upright Microtonal Piano

Keyboard "Bells"

2 Offstage Ensembles

The Distant Choir (Strings and Harp)

Percussion Section (there's also an onstage one)

1 "Ether Organ"

Judith Raskin sings Mahler’s Das Himmlische Leben