Hans Rott composed the first movement when he was 19
- two years prior to the other movements. Whereas the
motif and theme of this work were treated in a truly
remarkable but to some extent rather simple manner,
the other movements reveal that they have been written
by a more experienced composer. Besides we have to take
into consideration that Rott, with regard to the composition
competition of July 2, 1878, worked under time pressure
- he composed the first movement in 1 1/2 months, at
the most.
Yet
the jury members who had to judge the accepted works
did not find fault
with the technical value of the movement presented
by Rott. They were rather irritated by distinct reminiscences
of Richard Wagner; Rott's work failed.
We refrain from any analytical observations here; instead
we refer to the detailed analysis (with many music samples)
Litterscheid .
Yet
it has to be mentioned that some characteristics,
typical for Mahler's work, are clearly to be found
in
this Symphony, such as "bird calls" or "music from another
world"..
This
correspondence is best revealed by the Scherzo: It
brims with stereotypes from waltzes and ländlers
and anticipates in a stimulating way Mahler's technique
of exploiting such models. But this is not enough:
Mahler
quotes from this movement in the third movements of
his Second and Fifth Symphony. In the not too distant
future this shall be illustrated by audio examples;
until then we refer to Banks
and Kreysing/Litterscheid.
How
is the "value" of the Symphony to be estimated?
Let us turn our attention to Gustav Mahler first:
|
"It
is completely impossible to estimate what music
has lost in him. His genius soars to such heights
even
in his first symphony, written at the age of twenty,
and which makes him - without exaggeration - the
founder
of the new symphony as I understand it. He, however,
did not reach entirely what he wanted. It is as
if someone
swings back to throw as far as he can and, still clumsy,
does not quite hit the goal."
(Gustav Mahler in Nathalie Bauer-Lechner's reminiscences).
Mahler is certainly right here, for the Symphony is
(not yet) a mature masterpiece. Rott was no prodigy
which is sometimes revealed in the lack of experience
as to composition as well as to instrumentation. If
he had had a chance he certainly would have revised
his Symphony in later years.
But another thing becomes equally obvious: Rott had
not only been very ambitious, he also had an extraordinary
musical imagination and he did not shrink from disregarding
conventions if he considered it necessary.
"Yet
I know what he is aiming at. Yes, he is so related
to my very own that he and I seem to me like
two fruits from the same tree, brought forth by the
same soil, nourished by the same air. He could
have
been so infinitely much to me and perhaps the two of
us together would have fairly exhausted the content
of this new age which was dawning for music."
(Gustav Mahler, loc. cit.)
Hardly any further comment is necessary. As Banks (page
9) puts it: "One wonders what Rott could have
achieved if his life had not been so tragically short."
Back to the Index
of Playable Works
|
|
On the Origin of
the Symphony No. 1 in E major (Bert Hagels) |
|
Movements:
Alla breve
Sehr langsam (Very slow)
Scherzo: Frisch und lebhaft (Fresh and vivid)
Sehr langsam / Belebt (Very slow/ Brisk)
Orchestration:
2 flutes; 2 oboes; 2 clarinets; 2 bassoons; counter-bassoon;
4 horns; 3 trumpets; 3 trombones; 3 timpani; triangle;
strings
Length: c. 60 minutes
This work is published by Ries & Erler. As of now a bound score (390 pages incl.
symphony part of 1878 and critical survey) can be obtained
at a price of 96.00 Euro; order no. 51121. |
|

|
|
Performances:
(without any claim for completeness) |
March 4, 1989
Cincinnati Philharmonia Orchestra Gerhard Samuel Cincinnati/USA
First performance
Further performances:
March 10, 1989
Paris/F
March 12, 1989
London/GB, St. James's Church, Piccadilly
|
|
March 3, 1990
Wiener Symphoniker
Carlos Kalmar
Vienna/A |
|
October 28, 1990
Thalia Symphony Orchestra
Eric Hanson
Seattle/USA, Broadway Performance Hall |
|
March
22,
1992
American Symphony Orchestra
Leon Botstein
New York/USA, Carnegie Hall |
|
January 28, 1993
SWF Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden
(now: SWR
Sinfonieorchester Baden-Baden und Freiburg)
Gerhard Samuel
Baden-Baden/D, Kurhaus, Bénazet-Saal |
|
August 31, 1993
Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
Leif Segerstam
Helsinki/Finland, Finlandia Hall
(Helsinki
Festival) |
|
May 7, 1994
Sveriges
Radios Symfoniorkester
Leif Segerstam
Stockholm/Sweden |
|
March 26, 1995
London Symphony Orchestra
Michael Tilson Thomas
London/GB, Barbican Hall
(only the Scherzo) |
|
April 20, 1997
Radio Filharmonisch Orkest
Jac van Steen
Amsterdam/NL, Concertgebouw |
|
December 8, 1997
Campanile Orchestra
Scott O'Neill
Houston/USA, Rice University, Stude Concert Hall
(only 1st movement) |
|
January 23, 1998
Radio Symphonieorchester Wien
Dennis Russell Davies
Vienna/A, Konzerthaus
Further performance:
September 22, 1998
Berlin/D, Philharmonie
|
|
June
20,
1998
Internationales Herrmann-Scherchen-Jugendorchester
Christian von Borries
Stralsund/D,
Kirche St. Jakobi
(only 1st and 3rd movement)
|
|
October 14, 1999
Malmö SymfoniOrkester
Justin Brown
Malmö/S |
|
October 15, 1999
Sjællands
Symfoniorkester
Justin Brown
Kopenhagen/DK |
|
October 20/22, 2000
Orchestre National de Montpellier
Friedemann Layer
Montpellier/F, Opéra Berlioz - Le Corum |
|
February 2, 2002
Slovenska
Filharmonija
Leif Segerstam
Maribor/Slovenia |
|
February 9/10/11/12, 2002
Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest
Hartmut Haenchen
February 9 to 11, 2002: Amsterdam/NL, Concertgebouw
February 12, 2002: Utrecht/NL, Vredenburg
(only the Scherzo) |
|
April 19/21/22, 2002
Düsseldorfer
Symphoniker
Ryusuke Numajiri
Tonhalle, Düsseldorf/D |
|
October 20, 2002
Münchner
Rundfunkorchester
Sebastian Weigle
Würzburg/D, Cathedral |
|
October 23, 2002
Ungarische Sinfoniker Pécs
Hans Richter
Kempten/D, Stadttheater |
|
January 16/17/18, 2003
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
Neeme Järvi
Detroit/USA, Orchestra Hall |
|
April 26/27/28, 2003
Houston Symphony
Alan Gilbert
Detroit/USA |
|
October 23/24, 2003
Orquestra Gulbenkian
Michael Zilm
Lissabon/P |
|
November 11, 2003
Imperial Symphony Orchestra
Arthur Pranno
Lakeland/Florida/USA |
|
December 7, 2003
Münchner
Rundfunkorchester
Sebastian Weigle
Munich/D, Prinzregententheater |
|
December 18/19, 2003
Orquesta
Sinfónica de Galicia
Victor Pablo Perez
December
18: La Coruña/E,
Palacio de la Opera
December 19: Vigo/E |
|
March 5/6, 2004
Orchester
des Staatstheaters Mainz
Catherine
Rückwardt
Mainz/D |
|
April 16, 2004
Orquesta
Sinfónica de Tenerife
Victor Pablo Perez
Teneriffa/E |
|
September 9 - 18, 2004
Neue
Elbland Philharmonie
Peter Fanger
September 9,
2004: Pirna/D
September 11, 2004: Großenhain/D
September 12, 2004: Riesa/D
September 18, 2004: Coswig/D |
|
October 15/16, 2004
WDR
Sinfonieorchester Köln
Neeme
Järvi
Cologne/D, Philharmonie |
|
November 11/12, 2004
Japan
Philharmonic Orchestra
Ryusuke Numajiri
Tokyo/J, Suntory Hall |
|
December 5-7, 2004
Gürzenich-Orchester
Sebastian
Weigle
Cologne/D, Philharmonie |
|
March 14-20, 2005
Neue
Philharmonie Westfalen
Johannes
Wildner
March 14/15, 2005: Gelsenkirchen/D,
Musiktheater im Revier
March 16, 2005: Kamen/D, Konzertaula
March 17, 2005: Papenburg/D, Forum
March 19, 2005: Recklinghausen/D, Rurfestspielhaus
March 20, 2005: Dortmund/D, Konzerthaus |
|
April 22 - 25, 2005
NDR
Sinfonieorchester
Alan Gilbert
April 22, 2005: Hamburg/D, Laeiszhalle
April 23, 2005: Kiel/D, Schloss
April 25, 2005: Lübeck/D, Musik- und Kongresshalle |
|
November 25, 2005
Budapest
Concert Orchestra MÁV
Johannes
Wildner
Budapest/H, College of music (Franz Liszt concert
hall) |
|
December 1, 2005
New Russia Symphony Orchestra
Johannes
Wildner
Moscow/RUS |
|
December 25, 2005
Kyoto
Philomusica Orchestra
S. Kin
Nagaoka-Kyo City/J, Culture Hall |
|
February 6, 2006
Staatsorchester
Kassel
Rasmus Baumann
Kassel/Germany, Stadthalle |
|
February 16, 2006
New Japan Philharmonic
Christian Arming
Tokyo/Japan, Suntory Hall
|
|
June 10/11, 2006
Berliner Sinfonie-Orchester
Sebastian Weigle
Berlin/Germany, Konzerthaus |
|
November
24/25/26, 2006
Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona i
Nacional de Catalunya (OBC)
Jesús López Cobos
Barcelona/Spain, L'Auditori, Sala Simfònica |
|
November
30, 2006
Staatskapelle Halle
Hartmut Haenchen
Halle/Germany, Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Halle
(only the Scherzo) |
|
December
15, 2006
Zagrebacka filharmonija (Zagreb Philharmonic
Orchestra)
Johannes Wildner
Zagreb/Croatia |
|
March
15/16/17/20, 2007
The
Philadelphia Orchestra
Neeme
Järvi
Philadelphia/USA |
|
March
18, 2007
MDR
Sinfonieorchester
Dennis
Russell Davies
Leipzig/Germany |
|
June
2/3, 2007
Basel
Sinfonietta
Dennis
Russell Davies
June 2, 2007: Samen/Switzerland, Aula Cher
June 3, 2007: Basel/Switzerland, Stadtcasino |
|
September
27-29, 2007
Berliner
Philharmoniker
Neeme
Järvi
Berlin/D, Philharmonie |
|
November
2/3,
2007
Residentie
Orkest
Neeme
Järvi
Den Haag/Netherlands, Dr. A. Philipszaal |
|
February
4/5, 2008
Philharmonisches Orchester Augsburg
Rudolf
Piehlmayer
Augsburg/Deutschland, Kongreßhalle |
|
March
12/13, 2008
Thüringen Philharmonie Gotha-Suhl
Alun
Francis
March 12, 2008: Suhl/Deutschland, Congress Centrum
March 13, 2008: Gotha/Deutschland, Kulturhaus |
|
May
13, 2008
Osaka
Symphoniker
Kiyotaka
Teraoka
Osaka/Japan, Symphony Hall |
|
June
20, 2008
Orquesta
Sinfónica de Madrid
Jesús López Cobos
Madrid/Spain, Auditorio Nacional de Música |
|
September
14, 2008
Bruckner
Orchester Linz
Dennis
Russell Davies
Linz/Austria, Brucknerhaus |
|
November
1/2/3, 2008
Staatskapelle
Dresden
Sebastian
Weigle
Dresden/Germany, Semperoper |
|
December 6, 2008
Osaka
Prefecture University Orchestra
Kouhei Asano
Sakai/Japan, Sofia Sakai |
|
February 9/10, 2009
Bruckner
Orchester Linz
Dennis Russell Davies
Graz/Austria, Congress |
|
May
22-24, 2009
Bayerisches Ärzteorchester
Reinhard Steinberg
May
22: Schweinfurt/Germany, St. Johannis
May 23: Bamberg/Germany, Aula der Universität
May 24: Munich/Germany, Herkulessaal |
|
August
2, 2009
Fukuoka
OB Philharmonic Orchestra
Kiyotaka
Teraoka
Fukuoka/Japan, Acros Fukuoka Symphony Hall |
|
September
19/20, 2009
Nürnberger
Symphoniker
Rasmus Baumann
Nürnberg/Deutschland, Meistersingerhalle |
|
Janurary
16, 2010
Royal
Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra
Vasily Petrenko
Liverpool/UK, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
(only the Scherzo)
|
|
January
24 /25, 2010
Staatsorchester Braunschweig
Georg
Mark
Braunschweig/D, Staatstheater |
|
February
3/4, 2010
Sinfonieorchester
Basel
Dennis Russell Davies
Basel/CH, Stadtcasino/Musiksaal |
|
February
19/20, 2010
Cincinnati
Symphony Orchestra
Paavo
Järvi
Cincinnati/USA, Music Hall |
|
March
13-20, 2010 Noordhollands
Jeugdorkest
Bas Pollard
March
13, 2010: Purmerend/NL, Taborkerk
March 20, 2010: Hoorn/NL, Oosterkerk
March 21, 2010: Amsterdam/NL, Posthoornkeerk
|
|
April
14-17, 2010 hr-Sinfonieorchester
Paavo
Järvi
April 14-16, 2010: Frankfurt a.M./D, Alte Oper
April 17, 2010: Aschaffenburg/D, Stadthalle |
|
April
17/18, 2010
Orquesta
Filarmónica de la UNAM
Alun Francis
Mexico City/Mexico |
|
May
27, 2010 Brüssels
Philharmonic
Michel Tabachnik
Salzburg/Austria |
|
August
29/30, 2010
Orchester
des Staatstheaters Darmstadt
Constantin Trinks
Darmstadt/D, Staatstheater/Großes Haus |
|
January
14, 2011
Slovenska
filharmonija
Uroš Lajovic
Ljubljana/Slowenien,Marjan Kozina Hall (Great Hall) |
|
August
14, 2011
ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester
Wien
Cornelius
Meister
Salzburg/A, Felsenreitschule
(Salzburger
Festspiele) |
|
October
12/13, 2011
Orchestre
de Paris
Paavo Järvi
Paris/F, Salle Pleyel
|
|
October
30, 2011
1st movement (piano transcription)
Vincenzo
Maltempo
Milano/I, Spazio Teatro 89 |
|
November
9-11, 2011
Philharmonisches
Orchester Altenburg-Gera
Jonas Alber
November 9/10, 2011: Gera/D, Theater/
Konzertsaal
November 11, 2011:
Altenburg/D, Landestheater/Großes Haus |
|
December
17, 2011
Symphoniesatz
E-Dur für Orchester
Heemsteeds
Philharmonisch Orkest
Steven Bourne
Heemstede/NL |
|
February
10, 2012
Belgrade
Philharmonic Orchestra
Uroš Lajovic
Belgrade/SRB, Grand Hall of the Ilija M. Kolarac Foundation |
|
June
10, 2012
Bromley
Symphony Orchestra
Summer
Workshop
Legacy Hall, Langley Park School
for Boys, Beckenham/UK |
|
February
13, 2013
Radion
sinfoniaorkesteri (Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra)
Marc Minkowski
Helsinki/FIN, Musiikkitalo/Konserttisali |
|
April
4/5, 2013
Real
Filharmonia de Galicia
Christoph
König
April 4, 2013: Vigo/E, Centro Cultural
Novacaixagalicia
April 5, 2013: Santiago de Compostela/E, Auditorio de
Galicia |
|
April
19, 2013
Symfonieorkest Eindhoven
Daan
Admiraal
Eindhoven/NL, Muziekgebouw Frits Philips |
|
May
17, 2013
Osaka
Symphony Orchestra
Kiyotaka Teraoka
Osaka/J, Symphony Hall |
|
July
20, 2013
Münchner
Symphoniker
Hansjörg Albrecht
Toblach/I,
Gustav Mahler Saal |
|
September
22, 2013
Northbrook Symphony Orchestra
Lawrence
Rapchak
Northbrook/USA,
Sheely Center for the
Performing Arts |
|
October
3, 2013
UGA Symphony Orchestra
S. Eric Hawk
Athens/USA, Hodgson Concert Hall |
|
January
25/26, 2014
Passauer
Universitätsorchester
Alexander H. Quasniczka
January 25, 2014, 5 p.m.: Linz/A, Alter Dom
January 26, 2014, 2 p.m.:
Passau/D, Kirche St. Peter
(only
1st movement) |
|
March
12/13, 2014
Göteborgs
Symfoniker
Marc
Minkowski
Göteborg/S, Konserthus |
|
April
3, 2014
Kuopion
kaupunginorkesteri (Kuopio Symphonieorchester)
Alberto Hold-Garrido
Kuopio/FI, Konzerthalle
|
|
April
6, 2014
Orchester
der Akademie St. Blasius
Karlheinz
Siessl
Innsbruck/A, Großer Stadtsaal |
|
June
4/5, 2014
Duisburger
Philharmoniker
Axel Kober
Duisburg/D, Theater am Marientor |
|
June
21, 2014
Shanghai
Symphony Orchestra
David Stern
Shanghai/CN, Shanghai Concert Hall |
|
September
21/22, 2014
Frankfurter
Opern- und Museumsorchester
Sebastian Weigle
Frankfurt/D, Alte Oper
21.09.2014:
11 Uhr
22.09.2014: 20 Uhr |
|
November
28, 2014
BBC
Symphony Orchestra
Marc Minkowski
London/GB, Barbican Centre |
|
January
31/February 1, 2015
Dresdner
Philharmonie
Sebastian Weigle
Dresden/D, Schauspielhaus |
|
February
15, 2015
Symphonic Movement in E major (1878) for orchestra
Shien Symphony Orchestra
N.N.
Osaka/J, Takatsuki Modern Theatre |
|
March
20, 2015
l'Orchestre
National du Capitole de Toulouse
Marc Minkowski
Toulouse/F, Halle aux Grains |
|
March
28, 2015
Philharmonisches
Orchester Regensburg
Tetsuro Ban
Regensburg/D, Audimax |
|
June
27, 2015
Sinfonieorchester
Magdeburger Musikfreunde
Gero Wiest
Magdeburg/D, Konzerthalle "G.Ph.Telemann" im Kloster |
|
June
28, 2015
Sinfonieorchester
Magdeburger Musikfreunde
Gero Wiest
Schönebeck/D, St. Jakobi-Kirche |
|
July
14, 2015
Symphony No. 1 in E major (Transcription)
Katharina
Königsfeld, Klavier
Erl/A, Festspielhaus |
|
September
17/18, 2015
Magdeburgische
Philharmonie
Kimbo Ishii
Magdeburg/D, Opernhaus / Bühne |
|
September
21, 2015
Symphony No. 1 in E major (excerpts only)
Solistes
Européens Luxembourg
Christoph
König
Luxembourg, Philharmonie |
|
November
8, 2015
Mozarteumorchester
Salzburg
Konstantin Trinks
Salzburg/A, Großes Festspielhaus (11:00 a.m.) |
|
November
19, 2015
Webern
Symphonie Orchester
Johannes Wildner
Wien/A, RadioKulturhaus |
|
November
26/28, 2015
Bochumer
Symphoniker
Antony Hermus
Bochum/D, Audi-Max |
|
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Back to the Index of Playable Works |
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