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Flourish, Mighty Land (Prokofiev)

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Flourish, Mighty Land, Op. 114, (variably called Flourish, Mighty Homeland or Prosper, Mighty Country) is a cantata written by Sergei Prokofiev in 1947, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the October Revolution, along with his Thirty Years.[1]

Background

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In contrast to the monumental Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution, this cantata, in one movement, lasts 8 minutes. It is scored for chorus and orchestra.

Analysis

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The cantata opens with a trumpet theme in D-flat major, which is subsequently treated to Prokofiev's typical harmonic modulations. After a repeat of the theme by muted trumpet and piccolo, strings and woodwinds develop it.

The chorus then introduce a glowing theme a cappella, which alternates with pure orchestral sections. The climax is reached half-way, when the chorus and the orchestra perform together.

The chorus repeats the a cappella sections again, this time interrupted by marching orchestral chords. The chorus then fades out, and the opening trumpet theme returns. The cantata ends with three notes in descending tritones (high D-flat, G, low D-flat).

Instrumentation

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Piccolo
2 Flutes
2 Oboes
English Horn
2 Clarinets
Bass Clarinet
2 Bassoons
Contrabassoon
4 Horns
3 Trumpets
3 Trombones
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion (Triangle, Tambourine, Castanets, Snare Drum, Cymbals, Bass Drum)
Harp
Piano
Strings (1st and 2nd Violins, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses)
Chorus

Premiere

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12 November 1947, Moscow: Nikolai Anosov (conductor), USSR State Symphony Orchestra, Russian Federal SSR Choir.

Recordings

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Orchestra Choir Conductor Record Company Year of Recording Format
State Symphony Capella of Russia State Symphony Capella of Russia Valeri Polyansky Chandos Records 2003 CD
New Philharmonic Orchestra St Petersburg Philharmonic Choir Alexander Titov Beaux 1998 CD
USSR Ministry of Culture State Symphony Orchestra USSR Ministry of Culture Chamber Choir Gennadi Rozhdestvensky Melodiya ? LP

References

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  1. ^ Rethinking Prokofiev. United States: Oxford University Press, 2020. p.469