Symphony No. 4 in E-flat major for Orchestra, Op.22 (1974; 1991-94)

This symphony was completed between 1991 and 1994 from sketches written in 1974. The second movement was always intended as a scherzo-finale, and a separate slow movement would have offered too little contrast coming after the first movement.

The first movement concentrates almost exclusively on its opening motive, a six-note rising scale segment that is later often broken up into two groups of three notes. The only other important idea is a four-note motive with a dotted rhythm that ends in a rising fourth (or, sometimes, fifth); the "second theme" uses this motive more prominently, but the movement is essentially monothematic.

The second movement is in 6/8 time. Its main theme is a dipping, swooping tune that makes intensive use of hemiola (i.e., in this context, fake 3/4 time). This alternates with a group of marchlike motives, one of which turns into a "real" tune on the strings by way of a second theme. The development begins with a violently dissonant deceptive cadence, and contains another string tune that is only heard once and could almost be interpreted as the central episode of a rondo. The recapitulation brings back the exposition's material in scrambled order.

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