Gorecki - Symphony #3 - Lento e largo—Tranquillissimo

[thoreau]

click here to stream the mp3

This nine-minute second movement is for soprano, clarinets, horns, piano and strings, and contains a libretto formed from the prayer to the Virgin Mary inscribed by 18-year-old Helena Wanda Błażusiakówna, a highland woman incarcerated on 25 September 1944, on the cell wall in Zakopane, Poland. It read "O Mamo nie płacz nie—Niebios Przeczysta Królowo Ty zawsze wspieraj mnie" (Oh Mamma do not cry — Immaculate Queen of Heaven support me always).

The composer recalled, "I have to admit that I have always been irritated by grand words, by calls for revenge. Perhaps in the face of death I would shout out in this way. But the sentence I found is different, almost an apology or explanation for having got herself into such trouble; she is seeking comfort and support in simple, short but meaningful words".

He later explained, "In prison, the whole wall was covered with inscriptions screaming out loud: 'I'm innocent', 'Murderers', 'Executioners', 'Free me', 'You have to save me' — it was all so loud, so banal. Adults were writing this, while here it is an eighteen-year-old girl, almost a child. And she is so different. She does not despair, does not cry, does not scream for revenge."

"She does not think about herself; whether she deserves her fate or not. Instead, she only thinks about her mother: because it is her mother who will experience true despair. This inscription was something extraordinary. And it really fascinated me."

"I wanted the second movement to be of a highland character, not in the sense of pure folklore, but the climate of Podhale … I wanted the girl's monologue as if hummed … on the one hand almost unreal, on the other towering over the orchestra."

The movement opens with a folk drone, A–E, and a melodic fragment, E–G♯–F♯, which alternate with sudden plunges to a low B♭–D♭ dyad. Thomas describes the effect as "almost cinematic … suggesting the bright open air of the mountains".

As the soprano begins to sing, her words are supported by the orchestra until she reaches a climaxing top A♭. The movement is resolved when the strings hold a chord without diminuendo for just over two minutes.

This is hands down my most favorite piece of contemporary classical music.

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Pictured: blooming flowers around the "Stary kosciol parafialny MB Czestochowskiej" or "old cemetery" in Zakopane, Poland.

Comments

[cluebyfourgirl.livejournal.com]

Oh yes - it's mine too. I play the piece when I'm sad, happy, tired, peaceful... It almost always seems to be the right thing to listen to (when I'm in a classical mood ::grin::).

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

some of us are still waiting for pictures of you and your new "do"

(wink)

[kenwoodville.livejournal.com]

Wow, this is too strange, I was listening to Gorecki's Miserere album when I saw your post...

[brunorepublic.livejournal.com]

The third movement is what does it for me. Even translated from Polish, the words are devastatingly powerful.

because it is...

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

O sing for him / God’s little song-birds / Since his mother cannot find him.
And you, God’s little flowers / May you blossom all around / that my son may a sleep happy sleep

yep. powerful stuff!

who are we kidding?

[low-fat-muffin.livejournal.com]

the entire symphony is remarkable!

Thx

[fotobehr.livejournal.com]

Thank you Robert for sharing! Makes me realize how much I have missed going to the opera...
Best to you...
LB

[designerotter.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing that music, Robert... it's profoundly beautiful. Your post reminded me: I was 23 , passing through San Francisco presidio, in uniform and on my way to Viet Nam. I remember the walls of the restrooms at the military base had the most extraordinary written graffitti I've ever seen; they were mostly prayers.