Symphony No. 7 (Sessions) Explained

The Symphony No. 7 of Roger Sessions was written in 1967 for the 150th anniversary of the University of Michigan . It was premiered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on October 1, 1967, by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jean Martinon.^[1]

Instrumentation

The symphony is scored for three flutes, three oboes, four clarinets, three bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, one tuba, timpani, percussion, piano, harp, and strings.^[2]

Structure and character

It is in three movements:

1. Allegro con fuoco
2. Lento e dolce
3. Allegro misurato – Tempo I, ma impetuoso – Epilogue: Largo^[3]

Andrea Olmstead describes all of Sessions's symphonies as "serious" and "funereal", with No. 7 being one of four with, "quiet reflective endings."^[4]

The composer said that the symphony was influenced by the Story of O.^[5]

Recordings

1. Peter Leonard/Louisville Orchestra (Louisville First Edition Records LS 776, 1981. With Sessions' Divertimento for Orchestra.)
2. Dennis Russell Davies/American Composers Orchestra (Argo 444 519–2, 1995. Symphonies 6, 7, 9.)

Further reading

• Imbrie, Andrew. "The Symphonies of Roger Sessions". Tempo (new series), no. 103 (December 1972): 24–32.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Chicago Symphony Premieres 1966–1990. 10 September 2009.
2. Web site: Presser's Roger Sessions Symphony No. 7 Page. 29 August 2015.
3. Web site: UMS Concert Program, October 1, 1967: Chicago Symphony Orchestra. 1 October 1967. ums.aadl.org. 15 August 2015.
4. Olmstead, Andrea (2012). Roger Sessions: A Biography, p.356. Routledge. .
5. [Andrea Olmstead]