Symphony No. 2 (Paine)

For the Lied by Schubert, see Im Frühling.

For the 1929 Soviet film, see In Spring (film).

Symphony No. 2 in A major, subtitled Im Frühling or In Spring, is the second symphony by American composer John Knowles Paine.

History

The symphony was composed in 1879 and published in Boston in 1880, at a time when few American composers were able to find publishers for symphonic works. It was also premiered in Boston in 1880, and was extremely well received, prompting handkerchief-waving and shouting at the first performance. Historian Louis Elson compared its final movement to Robert Schumann's Symphony in B flat, which is also subtitled "Spring".

Instrumentation

2 Flutes

2 Oboes

2 A Clarinets

2 Bassoons

4 Horns

2 Trumpets

2 Trombones

1 Bass Trombone

Timpani

Strings

Structure

The symphony is in four movements:

1. Adagio sostenuto - "Departure of Winter" Allegro ma non troppo "Awakening of Nature"
2. Scherzo Allegro "May-Night Fantasy"
3. Adagio "A Romance of Springtime"
4. Allegro giojoso "The Glory of Nature"

Use in film and television

The second and third movements were heard and shown performed at a concert in the fourth episode of the first season of the HBO television series The Gilded Age, depicting a performance in New York City in 1882.

External links

• Symphony No. 2 (Paine): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Falletta, JoAnn. "A Forgotten Voice - Announcement of Naxos recording of the Symphony No.1 in C Minor & plans to record the Symphony No.2".