Milhaud - Chamber Symphony No.1, Op.43 "Le printemps"

Rec.:Orchestra of Radio Luxembourg

    Well a couple of quick thoughts while I listen to this. One, this might be the longest post title I've had yet and it is for what may be the shortest symphony I'll ever do. Two, I feel like these Milhaud chamber symphonies are a bit of a copout, but they are fascinating in the "what makes something a symphony" kind of way. Third, chamber symphonies are fair game for this blog because I've become a massive fan of the genre over the last couple years.

    This chamber symphony has many of the elements that you would expect out of a larger symphonic work, especially an impressionistic one, just distilled and stripped the their bare Formal minimum. You can even hear the separation of movements in this three and a half minute work. There is the swirling opening movement, the more lush song-like strains in a middle movement, and the nervous activity of the final movement. The stripped down orchestration really lets him experiment with interesting color combinations as well. The harp writing is something to behold in this symphony as well, as they are more integral than you often hear.

    Some final thoughts. I've listened to this piece a few times over the last few years and every time it feels like it lasts longer than it does but I'm still engrossed the entire time. It is like a blipvert from Max Headroom, it somehow is fed to you in a condensed form and then expands in your head until it fills the space of a full symphony. Unlike blipverts though, I don't think it will occasionally make your head explode.