The Final Chorale 1999
Distributed by Films Media Group, PO Box 2053, Princeton, New Jersey 08543-2053; 800-257-5126
Produced by Films for the Humanities and Sciences
Director n/a
VHS, color with b& archival footage, 49 min.
High School - Adult
Music
Date Entered: 11/09/2018
Reviewed by Brad Eden, Ph.D., Head, Web and Digitization Services, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las VegasThe Final Chorale is a documentary that examines Igor Stravinsky's 1920 composition Symphonies d'Instruments a Vent (Symphonies of Wind Instruments). The piece was dedicated to the memory of Claude Debussy, considered the major impressionistic composer of the early 20th century, and a good friend of Stravinsky's. This documentary examines the theoretical musical construction of this composition, with commentary by Stravinsky's long time colleague and intimate friend Robert Craft. The Netherlands Wind Ensemble, directed by Reinbert de Leeuw, is featured throughout the video. The viewer is allowed to see the musicians of the ensemble preparing to play this piece, even to see the wind players making and preparing the reeds for the clarinets and oboes. de Leeuw comments throughout the documentary on the static character of the composition, how it fits into the turn-of-the-century musical mileau, and Stravinsky's own thoughts and musical processes during the construction of this piece. Archival footage of Stravinsky is also shown.
The Final Chorale is a wonderful video presentation of the musical construction of a single composition by one of the giants of twentieth-century classical music. It examines the life and thought processes brought into the composition of the piece, its place in the twentieth century's musical genres, and the rehearsal and performance of the piece by a contemporary wind ensemble. The video ends with a full performance of the composition. Highly recommend for music appreciation classes at the high school through college levels, and for anyone interested in twentieth century music or Stravinsky himself.