Flourish, Mighty Land (Prokofiev)

Flourish, Mighty Land, Op. 114, (variably called Flourish, Mighty Homeland or Prosper, Mighty Country) is a cantata written by Sergei Prokofiev in 1947, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the October Revolution, along with his Thirty Years.

Background

In contrast to the monumental Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution, this cantata, in one movement, lasts 8 minutes. It is scored for chorus and orchestra.

Analysis

The cantata opens with a trumpet theme in D-flat major, which is subsequently treated to Prokofiev's typical harmonic modulations. After a repeat of the theme by muted trumpet and piccolo, strings and woodwinds develop it.

The chorus then introduce a glowing theme a cappella, which alternates with pure orchestral sections. The climax is reached half-way, when the chorus and the orchestra perform together.

The chorus repeats the a cappella sections again, this time interrupted by marching orchestral chords. The chorus then fades out, and the opening trumpet theme returns. The cantata ends with three notes in descending tritones (high D-flat, G, low D-flat).

Instrumentation

Piccolo

2 Flutes

2 Oboes

English Horn

2 Clarinets

Bass Clarinet

2 Bassoons

Contrabassoon

4 Horns

3 Trumpets

3 Trombones

Tuba

Timpani

Percussion (Triangle, Tambourine, Castanets, Snare Drum, Cymbals, Bass Drum)

Harp

Piano

Strings (1st and 2nd Violins, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses)

Chorus

Premiere

12 November 1947, Moscow: Nikolai Anosov (conductor), USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Russian Federal SSR Choir.

Recordings

Orchestra	Choir	Conductor	Record Company	Year of Recording	Format
State Symphony Capella of Russia	State Symphony Capella of Russia	Valeri Polyansky	Chandos Records	2003	CD
New Philharmonic Orchestra	St Petersburg Philharmonic Choir	Alexander Titov	Beaux	1998	CD
USSR Ministry of Culture State Symphony Orchestra	USSR Ministry of Culture Chamber Choir	Gennadi Rozhdestvensky	Melodiya	?	LP