Symphony no. 5., 1977-1981, final revision 1984.

Symphony no. 5

Symphony no. 5. Polish Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra, Jan Krenz - conductor, 1987.

Symphony no. 5

One of Palester’s most important works, summing up his entire oeuvre. Written for a huge orchestra of over 100 players (triple woodwinds, 6 horns, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, augmented percussion, 2 harps, piano and celesta), it consists of five movements played attacca. The central point is the slow middle movement – Molto lento, misterioso. It is surrounded by two fast parts, while the first and the last parts are again slow. In this symphony Palester used quotations from songs by Brahms (O Tod, wie bitter bist du) and Schubert (Des Baches Wiegenlied).

Symphony no. 5 was recorded on 7 February 1987 in Katowice and its first public performance took place on 23 September of the same year at the Warsaw Autumn and the performers were the Polish Radio and Television Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jan Krenz.