57 fall program - Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra

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Program Notes
Tcherepnin’s classical influence notwithstanding, the Concerto No. 1 is not classical in nature.
Vigorous percussiveness and interesting dissonances indicate that Prokofiev was casting his lot
with the avant garde. Critics present at the premiere called it “musical mud” and the work of a
madman. The furor surrounding the premiere may ultimately have worked to Prokofiev’s
advantage since it brought him instant attention but for years afterward he would be dogged with
accusations of decadence and modernism.
This concerto, which Prokofiev considered to be his first mature work, is (unlike most) a single
continuous movement but it is divided into easily discernable sections which preserve the fastslow-fast
form of the typical three movement concerto. It is lyrical, particularly in the Andante
section, and possesses a pervasive, energetic percussive quality. Modern concertgoers whose
ears have long since become accustomed to dissonances and harmonies far more daring than
Prokofiev’s will surely hear, not “musical mud,” but musical originality and creativity. And,
hopefully, they will take a moment to appreciate Tcherepnin’s willingness to tolerate, educate
and encourage a brat!
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