Symphony No. 2 (“Brasiliana”) by Walter Burle Marx: an edition and commentary
Date
2013Metadata
[+] Show full item recordAbstract
This research on the Brazilian composer Walter Burle Marx (b São Paulo, 1902; d
Akron, Ohio, 1990) is part of an ambitious project, which aims at publishing a
performing edition of all four of Burle Marx's symphonies. His Symphony No. 2
(“Brasiliana”), written in 1950, reflects Burle Marx's national and cosmopolitan
influences. The main part of this dissertation consists of my edition of the symphony
based on the original manuscript. This is followed by biographical information on the
composer and his times and an analysis of the symphony. The early twentieth century in Brazil was an effervescent period when
nationalism was the watchword. This climate caused some hesitation when it came to
accepting Burle Marx into the Brazilian musical scene not only as a composer but also as
a conductor. Burle Marx's musical background forged an undeniable bond between
music tradition and artistic nationalism, which was imperative to the composers of the time. Nonetheless, for the Brazilian modernist movement in the 1920s, Burle Marx's
German training in the 1920s turned out to be an anathema. This dissertation investigates
two aspects of Brazil's cultural and political environment between 1922 and 1945, a
critical period which had a great impact on the development of Burle Marx's career. This
era embraces two major moments in the cultural and political history of Brazil: 1) A
Semana de Arte Moderna (“The Week of Modern Art”), which was a watershed
development toward a new aesthetic orientation for Brazilian artists, and 2) the end of
Era Vargas, Getúlio Vargas' dictatorship (1930-1945).
Table of Contents
Part 1: Symphony no.2 ("Brasiliana"), posthumus homage to Heitor Villa-Lobos -- Performance notes -- Part 2: Walter Burle Marx's Symphony no.2: Commentary and analysis -- Chapter 1. Walter Burle Marx: his life, influences, and symphonies -- Chapter 2. First movement -- Chapter 3. Second movement -- Chapter 4. Third movement -- Chapter 5. The musical language of Burle Marx's second symphony -- Appendix A. Chronological list of Walter Burle Marx's compositions -- Appendix B. Guest conducting appearances, 1931-1942 -- Appendix C. Walter Burle Marx radio programs, 1934-1944 -- Appendix D. Critical apparatus -- Appendix E. Letter of permission
Degree
D.M.A.