Julius Eastman's Second Symphony, composed in 1983, is dedicated to his former lover and chronicles their failed relationship.
Composition History
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky found inspiration for his Second Symphony while relaxing at his sister-in-law's estate in the Ukrainian village of Kamianka, where he heard folk songs.
Historical Context
The Russian music critic Nicholas Kashkin dubbed Tchaikovsky's Second Symphony 'Little Russian,' a demeaning name adopted in Imperial Russia for Left Bank Ukraine.
Composer Biography
Julius Eastman, a brilliant and deeply affective composer, was an unapologetically out Black gay man whose identity was radical in some circles in the 1970s.
Cultural Impact
Due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, many orchestras now call Tchaikovsky's Second Symphony the 'Ukrainian' Symphony instead of 'Little Russian' to honor those affected by the conflict.
Compositional Technique
The rousing Finale of Tchaikovsky's Second Symphony is based on a still-popular Ukrainian children's song, Zhuravel' (The Crane).
Compositional Technique
Julius Eastman's Second Symphony requires 100 musicians and offers opportunities for asynchronous and improvisatory music-making, while also challenging the ensemble to perform certain phrases in time.
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