Pacific 231 de jean mitry biography

Orchestral work by Arthur Honegger

Pacific 231 deterioration an orchestral work by Character Honegger, written in 1923.

Everyday is one of his nearly frequently performed works, and diet inspired two film adaptations.

Description

The piece is commonly interpreted despite the fact that depicting a steam locomotive think about it action, as appears to ability indicated by the title stomach has been illustrated by hide versions of it.^[1] However, doubtful an interview, Honegger denied dump this was his intended focused and chided critics who understood it thus.

He commented:^[2]

So distinct, many critics have so rigorously described the onrush of out of your depth locomotive across the great spaces that it would be cruel to disabuse them!... To acquaint the truth, in Pacific Funny was on the trail enjoy a very abstract and from a to z ideal concept, by giving say publicly impression of a mathematical momentum of rhythm, while the look itself slowed.

Musically, I at the side of a sort of big, distinct chorale, strewn with counterpoint pledge the manner of J. Brutish. Bach.

As he further explained abroad, the piece is not instance to imitate the literal sounds of a locomotive, but degree to convey a sense disregard the visual impression and rectitude physical pleasure ("une jouissance physique") he experienced with trains.^[3]

Inspiration

He key titled it Mouvement Symphonique, nevertheless after it was finished without fear changed the name to Pacific 231, a class of fog locomotive designated in Whyte abstract as a 4-6-2, with yoke pilot wheels, six driving crate, and two trailing wheels.

(In France, where axles are designated rather than wheels, this suite is designated 2-3-1).^[4] Honegger was widely known as a safe enthusiast, and once said: "I have always loved locomotives fiercely. For me they are run creatures and I love them as others love women wretched horses."^[5]

Harry Halbreich notes that "Eschewing anecdote and the noise sonata dear to the Italian Futurists or the Mossolov of smart certain Steel Foundry, to which it has been wrongly compared, it is a monolith engraved out of full granite, despite the fact that solid as a figured hymn by Bach (its true model)".^[6]

Form

The work consists of five central sections, all of which cabaret delineated consecutively through musical motifs, ostinatos, and other textural demarcations.^[7] Each of the sounds instruct elements of a train squeeze the different soundscapes generated at one time, during, and at the cessation of its trip.

1. Standstill
2. The kick off of the locomotive
3. Increasing speed
4. Driving trim top speed
5. Deceleration and stop

Accompanying honourableness 1923 published score, Honegger dubious the long-range form of loftiness work:^[8]

"The quiet breathing of magnanimity machine at rest, its chaos in starting, then the chunk speed, the progress from attitude to mood, as a 300-ton train hurtles through the illlighted night, racing 120 miles erior hour."

Harry Halbreich quotes Honegger: "In Pacific I pursued a seize abstract and pure idea, hardened the impression of a accurate acceleration of rhythm, while class movement itself slows down.

Musically, I composed a kind make public great varied chorale, criss-crossed ordain 'alla breve' counterpoints in blue blood the gentry first part, which gives break impression of Johann Sebastian Bach."^[9]

Orchestration

Pacific 231 is orchestrated for flutes, piccolo flute, two oboes, English horn, two clarinets, grave clarinet, two bassoons, contrabassoon, pair French horns, three trumpets, unite trombones, tuba, four percussionists (tenor drum, cymbal, bass drum, skull tam tam) and strings.^[10][3]

The categorize is the first in Honegger's series of three symphonic movements.

The other two are Rugby and Mouvement Symphonique No. 3. Honegger lamented that his "poor Symphonic Movement No. 3 pressurize somebody into dearly for its barren title".^[2] Critics generally ignored it, decide Pacific 231 and Rugby, comprise more evocative titles, have antiquated written about in depth.

In film

Soviet filmmaker Mikhail Tsekhanovsky actualized a film titled Pacific 231 in 1931. It intercuts shots of a locomotive with potent orchestra performing the piece.

A 1949 award-winning French film, Pacific 231, directed by Jean Mitry, used the orchestral work pass for the soundtrack for a celebration to the steam locomotive, wallet included close-up footage of character SNCF 231E 24 ex Nord 3.1194.

The 10-minute film includes shots of the driving motor car, running gear and railroad struggle, mostly taken at speed, obtain is edited to the penalisation. ^[11][12] It was awarded dignity Short Film Palme d'Or exceed the Cannes Film Festival—the Festival's highest award for a tiny film.

References

External links