''Rustic Wedding Symphony'', Op. 26 (''Ländliche Hochzeit'') is a symphony in E flat major by

Karl Goldmark Karl Goldmark (born Károly Goldmark, Keszthely, 18 May 1830 – Vienna, 2 January 1915) was a Hungarian-born Viennese composer.Peter Revers, Michael Cherlin, Halina Filipowicz, Richard L. Rudolph The Great Tradition and Its Legacy 2004; , p. ...

, written in 1875, a year before his renowned Violin Concerto No. 1. The symphony was premiered in

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

on 5 March 1876, conducted by Hans Richter. Johannes Brahms, who was a frequent walking companion of Goldmark's, and whose own Symphony No. 1 was not premiered until November 1876, told him "That is the best thing you have done; clear-cut and faultless, it sprang into being a finished thing, like Minerva from the head of Jupiter".Joseph Braunstein, notes to Abravanel recording Its first American performance was at a New York Philharmonic Society concert, conducted by Theodore Thomas on 13 January 1877.

Structure

The work does not conform to the standard structure of a symphony, and it could just be named a Suite. It is in five movements rather than the usual four, which is same as

Beethoven Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 177026 March 1827) was a German composer and pianist. Beethoven remains one of the most admired composers in the history of Western music; his works rank amongst the most performed of the classic ...

's ''Pastoral Symphony'', Berlioz's '' Symphonie fantastique'' and

Schumann Robert Schumann (; 8 June 181029 July 1856) was a German composer, pianist, and influential music critic. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. Schumann left the study of law, intending to pursue a career a ...

's ''Rhenish Symphony''. It is full of Central European charm, joviality and good humour. While Goldmark did not provide any specific program for the work, he did give each of the movements titles suggestive of aspects of a wedding in the countryside.

Reception

The ''Rustic Wedding Symphony'' was a favourite of conductors such as

Thomas Beecham Sir Thomas Beecham, 2nd Baronet, Order of the Companions of Honour, CH (29 April 18798 March 1961) was an English conductor and impresario best known for his association with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, London Philharmonic and the Roya ...

and Leonard Bernstein.Harriet Cunningham, review of Sydney Symphony performance, Sydney Morning Herald, 17 March 2008
/ref> It has been recorded a number of times, by conductors such as Beecham, Bernstein, André Previn,

Maurice Abravanel Maurice Abravanel (January 6, 1903 – September 22, 1993) was an American classical music conductor. He is remembered as the conductor of the Utah Symphony Orchestra for over 30 years. Life Abravanel was born in Salonika, Rumelia Eyalet, Otto ...

Jesús López-Cobos Jesus ( AD 30 or 33) was a Jewish preacher and religious leader who most Christians believe to be the incarnation of God and Muslims believe was a prophet. Jesus may also refer to: People Religious figures * Elymas Bar-Jesus, a Jew in the ''Ac ...

, Yondani Butt and

Stephen Gunzenhauser Stephen Charles Gunzenhauser (born April 8, 1942) is an American conductor of classical music. He was the music director of the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra for 40 years, retiring after the 2019–20 season. In 2005, he founded the Endless Mounta ...

References

External links

Sources

Ethan Mordden: A Guide to Orchestral Music

David Ewen: Music for the Millions – The Encyclopedia of Musical Masterpieces

Raymond Monelle: The Musical Topic
{{Authority control Compositions by Karl Goldmark Romantic symphonies 1875 compositions