Henze: Symphony no 7

Day 243

Henze: Symphony no 7 

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

Simon Rattle

Henze was an important figure in contemporary music when I was at university but since then he seems to have rather faded from view. I certainly heard some of his music as a student but I don't have any strong recollections of it and I don't think that I have heard any of it since.

This symphony dates from 1983-4 and to some extent is a traditional work in the German symphonic tradition, in that it is a substantial piece in four movements - fast, slow, scherzo, fast. Whether Brahms or Beethoven would have recognised that is a different matter. The idiom is clearly mid 20th century in an amalgam of Stravinsky, Messiaen and Schoenberg among others. It is scored for a huge orchestra including Hecklephone, Contrabass clarinet, Contrabass trombone and lots of percussion.

It was certain a tough nut to crack. The first movement in particularly was unyielding in its ferocity and rhythmic drive - I imagine that it would sound amazing in a live performance. The end of the whole piece is also spectacular - everything works up to a huge climax and then suddenly stops, leaving the sounds of the more sustained instruments to die away gradually - it is an memorable effect.

I don't know whether Henze's days are now passed - the politics which infused so much of his music now seem very out of date. But this is certainly strong music which does deserve a hearing. I'm not sure whether I have the willpower to listen to the whole cycle of symphonies but I might try one of the operas.