Polish composer Witold Lutosławski wrote his Symphony No. 1 in 1941–47. The Grand Symphony Orchestra of the Polish Radio (WOSPR) performed its world premiere (conducted by Grzegorz Fitelberg, to whom it was dedicated) in Katowice on April 1, 1948.
Music The symphony, lasting 25 minutes, and is in four movements. The first, Allegro giusto, is a sonata form. The second is marked Poco adagio, while the third (Allegretto misterioso) is a scherzo whose opening theme is based on a twelve-note tone-row. The final movement is marked Allegro vivace.
It is scored for an orchestra with the following instrumentation.
Woodwinds 2 piccolos flute 2 oboes English horn 3 clarinets, 2nd doubling on piccolo clarinet in E 2 bassoons contrabassoon
Brass 4 horns in F 3 trumpets in C 3 trombones tuba
Percussion timpani drum cymbals xylophone
Keyboards piano
Strings harp violins I and II violas cellos double basses
Analysis "Witold Lutosławski: Symphony No. 1"
References