Nikolaj Jakowlewitsch Mjaskowski
Silentium
Short instrumentation: 4 4 4 4 - 8 4 3 1 - timp, perc(2), hp(2), str
Duration: 23'
Dedication: Konstantin Saradjew gewidmet
Instrumentation details:
piccolo
1st flute
2nd flute
3rd flute
1st oboe
2nd oboe
3rd oboe
cor anglais
1st clarinet in Bb
2nd clarinet in Bb
3rd clarinet in Bb
bass clarinet in Bb
1st bassoon
2nd bassoon
3rd bassoon
contrabassoon
1st horn in F
2nd horn in F
3rd horn in F
4th horn in F
5th horn in F
6th horn in F
7th horn in F
8th horn in F
1st trumpet in Bb
2nd trumpet in Bb
3rd trumpet in Bb
4th trumpet in Bb
1st trombone
2nd trombone
3rd trombone
tuba
timpani
1st percussion
2nd percussion
1st harp
2nd harp
violin I
violin II
viola
violoncello
contrabass
Mjaskowski - Silentium for large orchestra
Sample pages
Work introduction
As well as 27 symphonies, Nikolaj Mjaskowski composed a series of other orchestral works, including the symphonic poem Silentium, op. 9 in 1909. It is late-romantic music par excellence, inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s poetry on death. The American poet, who died young, equated silence with death, and Mjaskowski was inspired to create a piece of emotionally charged, passionate, sometimes haunting music.