Symphony No. 1 (Schnittke)
| Symphony No. 1 | |
|---|---|
| by Alfred Schnittke | |
| Genre | Polystylism |
| Composed | 1969–1974 |
| Duration | approx. 60 minutes |
| Movements | Four |
| Scoring | Large orchestra |
| Premiere | |
| Date | 9 February 1974 |
| Location | Gorky |
| Conductor | Gennady Rozhdestvensky |
| Performers | Gorky Philharmonic Orchestra |
The Symphony No. 1 by Alfred Schnittke was composed between 1969 and 1974. It is scored for a large orchestra. The symphony is recognised as one of Schnittke's most extreme essays in aleatoric music. From the outset the piece is loud, brash, and chaotic, and it quotes motifs from all parts of the Western classical tradition.
Schnittke includes a choreography for the musicians themselves, and in a manner similar to Haydn's Farewell Symphony, they leave and re-enter the stage at points marked in the score.