Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki wrote his Symphony No. 2 during the winter of 1979–80. Sometimes referred to as the "Christmas Symphony" (the opening phrase from the Christmas carol "Silent Night" occurs three times during the symphony), neither the score nor the parts (Schott Music, Mainz 45 791) make any reference to this moniker.
The New York Philharmonic, conducted by Zubin Mehta, gave the first performance of the symphony on 1 May 1980.Robinson, Ray. "Krzystof Penderecki: A Guide to His Works". Prestige Publications: Princeton, 1983, p.20.
Music The symphony, lasting 30–35 minutes, is in one movement employing a modified sonata form. Sections are marked: Moderato, Allegretto, Lento, Tempo I and Allegretto.
It is scored for piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 3 clarinets (3rd doubling E clarinet and bass clarinet), 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 5 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion (4 performers: triangle, gong, cymbals, tamtam, snare drum, bass drum, tubular bells, glockenspiel, xylophone), celesta, and strings
Recordings OrchestraConductorRecord companyYear of RecordingFormatNational Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra of Katowice (Polskie Radio. Wielka Orkiestra Symfoniczna w Katowicach)Jacek KasprzykMuza1981LPNorddeutscher Rundfunk. Sinfonie-OrchesterKrzysztof PendereckiWergo1994 Information elsewhere shows(?) that this was released in 1994 but recorded in 1989, so in any case postdates the Muza recording.CDNational Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra (Katowice)Antoni WitNaxos Records2000CDSinfonia VarsoviaKrzysztof PendereckiWarner Classics2017CD
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