Symphony No. 4

The Symphony No. 4 is an orchestral composition by the American composer John Harbison. The work was commissioned by the Seattle Symphony with contributions from the philanthropists Richard and Constance Albrecht. It was given its world premiere in Seattle on June 17, 2004 by the Seattle Symphony under the direction of Gerard Schwarz. Composition Background The symphony was composed during a turbulent period in Harbison's life when his wife became very ill. The composer wrote in the score program notes, "One morning at eight, in Bogliasco, Italy, where I was working, I receive a phone call - two o'clock the caller's time. I cannot describe the knowledge that struck during that call except to say that the breath of mortality, bearing at this moment on the person closest to me, came suddenly and radically near." He continued: Structure The symphony has a duration of roughly 27 minutes and is composed in five movements: Fanfare Intermezzo Scherzo Threnody Finale