Ives:Symphony No.4 IV. Finale. Very slowly; Largo maestoso

Tilson Thomas(cond), CSO

http://www.amazon.com/Ives-Symphonies-Nos-Hymns-Charles/dp/B0000026QA/

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• Ives:Symphony
• No.4
• Tilson
• Thomas

[freddydiamant]

This is one of the most moving pieces of music ever written. The way Ives creates that wonderous ecstasy is completely unique in classical music. You have that herendous climax beggining at 6:11, were the whole orchestra creates this great sound mass, leaving you with your mouth open. And after that comes the ultimate part: 8:21 with wordless chorus with that absolutely moving moment. It fades away to nothing leaving the distant string ensemble to talk to itself and the percussion to murmur.

[Cramnella]

This is one of the most sublime human utterances ever penned. I am a better person that I have been exposed to and have gotten the music of Charles Edward Ives. There is no question but that he is the greatest American composer ever, but I believe the case can be made that he was the greatest composer of the 20th century if not of all time.

[saspir]

What is the image in the video?

[Ear4Beauty]

The closing impressionistic sounding hymn at the end is Nearer My God to Thee. Get use to it

[Ear4Beauty]

This work is something like a more modernized Scriabin symphony. The final bars are so mysterious but touching because of the tradition V to I cadence and hold before the coda. The twittering of the flute aways did remind me of looking out into the starry Milky Way in space. The hint of a Christian hymn, the low rumble of a percussion. Very memorable.

[thrash5409]

Oh yes, that last movement of Orch. Set 2 is very moving, and Stokowski's is the best, and the piece is much stranger in some ways, than the last movement of the fourth symph. My favorite Ives is the last movement of the 3rd Symphony, in the Bernstein recording.

[anuteamsterium]

@thrash5409 ... Stokowski- agreed. Ever hear Stokowski's recording of Ives Second Orchestral Set?  Has the same grandeur and tragic beauty.

[thrash5409]

I saw Tilson-Thomas conduct this at Carnegie Hall in 1975 or 76. Though I prefer the Stokowski version, I always find this movement heart-stopping, whoever conducts, unless they rush it, and the "Nearer My God To Thee" theme at the end makes me think he's depicting the sinking of the Titanic.

[clucaspik]

To think there were no models for this, except maybe the music of the spheres.

[cyclonus812]

@lyricaltones On my bucket list is to see this performed live.

[cyclonus812]

@freddydiamant It was about 15 years ago when I stumbled upon this browsing the radio......one of the most beautiful and powerful things I've heard in my life.

[MaestroTJS]

@Cramnella I wish there was an emoticon I could put here which would show me falling off my chair laughing at that suggestion.