First blog post featuring Reinhold Gliére - Harp concerto

I decided to open up a little blog on my website as outlet for my everyday thoughts about composing and orchestrating. I decided to analyze my favorite major chord appearing in a symphonic work. The last chords of Reinhold Gliére’s Concerto for Harp and Orchestra in E-Flat Major, Op. 74. It’s really such a wonderful chord. It’s filled with warmth and power and it’s a refreshing change to hear a chord with quite a limited range at the end of a magnificent piece.

We can see that in my reduction the top Eb is really emphasized. Violin I and both flutes, 1 oboe and 1 clarinet all play the same note. Giving it tremendous warmth and stability, it really grounds the chord and think it’s this thing that sets this chord apart from others. The sound of so many instrument unison at pitch is very majestic.

The bottom of the chord is mostly these very fat fifths, with the bassoon reinforcing the bass along with the timpani, the horns fill out the center also taking a third (G) together with violins II and oboe 2. For me this is a really satisfying ending chord, maybe not something you would see in the middle of a piece but at the end it really does do wonder. I hope you find some use of it!

https://youtu.be/AkNB-yFKRjA?si=gBX_-t_JBOBlc9V-&t=294

The chord in question