Nearly 25 years after his title hit, Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, the late Henryk Górecki has premiered a follow-up to the million copy-selling smash. His fourth symphony to date, Górecki has compiled four movements into a unique 35-minute recording currently available for streaming.
However, there's a story to uncover regarding his latest concerto. The piece, which was left more or less unfinished, was left as a score for piano accompanied with instructions for further orchestration. His son, also a composer, Mikołaj Górecki, was left to finish his father's final composition.
Upon finishing the symphony, Mikołaj premiered the tune in London in 2014 with Andrey Boreyko conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
According to NPR about the piece:
"Górecki's bleak 5-note opening theme is punctuated by a trio of booming bass drums. The pitches help spell the name of the Polish-born composer Alexandre Tansman, giving the Symphony its subtitle, 'Tansman Episodes.' Soon both piano and organ add to the pummeling, providing a reference to crashing piano chords in an earlier work, the Kleines Requiem, composed the year following the unexpected triumph of the Third Symphony. After four minutes the assault suddenly stops, as the theme is whispered in piano and glockenspiel. But only for a moment, until the drums throw a few last punches."
A most profound piece, the composition references Concerto-Cantata, also by Górecki, but maintains a simplicity that is also referential of John Adams (not to be confused with John Luther Adams). There are also elements, obviously, of Shostakovich littered all over the track, especially therein lying with the percussion that makes bold leaps into the foreground at times.
Nonetheless, it's an intriguing piece published posthumously for Mr. Górecki br Mr. Górecki Jr. Take a first listen, if you haven't already, by streaming a live version of the symphony below.
