The composer personally described the process of writing the Symphony No. 2: “Long before the World War II I had an idea to compose the second Symphony dedicated to the young generation. I planned to create a lyrical and sunny music of perfect peaceful life. And the first part corresponded to the concept. But the following three appeared during the war time, and the life started dictating its own principles, creating new scenes and images: the story about gloomy and tragic period in the history of the Motherland and the victims of fascism - is the contents of the second part; the third one narrates about severe fights with enemies; the forth is about anticipation of the victory and general confidence despite the global drama.”
It is interesting to note that Khrennikov’s comrades from the Conservatory, Aram Khachaturian (1943) and Vano Muradeli (1944), presented their Symphonies No. 2 at the same time. Each of them found unique artistic solutions in terms of the general concept typical for symphonic music of the war time. The concept was finally formed in the Symphony No. 7 by Dmitri Schostakovich, who revealed the pictures of fight and grief, courage and heroism very vividly. These images also appeared in compositions of other authors, but were manifested in new forms. Of course, the explanation can lie in different artistic development of the composers, in their actualization of particular elements typical for symphonic genre.
It is obvious that Tchaikovsky influenced various aspects of intonation, form, style and orchestrating. A strong sequential increase and sharp breakdown of sound after climax, streamy gamuts of the string section and roll-call of orchestral groups, diying out of the wind section in the low register, dynamic triplets in marching fragments and loud tutti – are the peculiarities of Tchaikovsky’s drama. The first three parts of the Symphony make up a great dramatic climax bursting in finale - vital, dynamic and impressive.
The Symphony No. 2 was finished in the early 1943 and performed several times. However, the composer was not satisfied with Finale of the symphony and he fundamentally altered it. Its final version was primarily presented on June 09, 1944.
Text to the booklet with the CD: Tikhon Khrennikov - Three Symphonies (Masterpieces of the Soviet music)
Quotations from the books and articles by I. Martynov, O. Levtonova, Y. Kremljov are used in the booklet.