This first symphony by Athena Vay explores many musical topics and ideas over the course of its 34 minute duration. The symphony, that took Vay only two weeks to make (July 2, 2024 - July 18, 2024), has three movements in all.

The first movement’s (I. Largo - Adagio Calore) opening begins with a harp playing arpeggiated chords, and a solemn string serenade played by each instrument, coming in at a different time. This motif is carried on thoughout three instument groups and the harp enters again with fast arpeggios and a sweeping melody is heard from the orchestra. The second theme comes after the string intermission and we are back to the start. Once we have reached the woodwind’s turn for the second theme, the whole orchestra burts into a triumphant call in which both themes are heard. The movement ends with a feeling of hope and determination, ready to move on.

The second movement (II. Allegro Scherzando starts with the harp playing a catchy tune alone and freely. Low woodwinds echo and high strings play an inverted version of the first theme. Flutes and oboes echo the strings, and the orchestra comes blasting in with both the original and inverted theme together. The flutes take control again and play the main theme over pizzicato strings, and strings come in with a variation on the first theme after the caesura. The cellos and bass play an answer to the first theme’s question and violins echo over the viola‘s drone. Strings and brass come barging in with a short second theme that is quickly interrupted by the first motif before they come together harmoniously. The movement is repeated, and the coda features just the harp recapping the second movement.

The third movement (III. Larghetto e appassionato) starts off with soft strings and a piercing harp playing the first motif. The mellow flute comes in and restates the theme before oboes and bassoons take over, quoting Vay’s “The Shattered Vase” in her Shattered Glass Musical while the cellos play an intertwining melody. The bassoon has a solo that gets more and more deranged before the brass take over and take a once sorrow theme into a triumphant one. Strings come in as a soft pillow, with a flowing melody and simple accompaniment before we have come back to the beginning, however the brass call is replaced by the whole orchestra playing the sorrow and powerful motif heard at the beginning, The ending restates the horn call and the cellos and violas play a duet together before the movement comes to a soft ending.
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INSTRUMENTATION

2 Flutes
2 Oboes
2 B♭ Clarinets
2 Bassoons
4 Horns in F
2 B♭Trumpets
2 B♭Trombones
1 Tuba
1 Timpani
1 Cymbal
1 Harp
Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Violoncello
Contrabass
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0:00 ~ Title Screen
0:05 ~ I. Lento - Adagio calore
9:33 ~ II. Allegro scherzando
15:38 ~ III. Larghetto e appasionato
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Symphony No. 1 in Eb Major
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ATHENA VAY COMPOSER
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