Symphony No. 3 "Pieśń o nocy" (Song of the Night), Op. 27, for solo tenor, chorus and orchestra (1914)

The third symphony by Polish composer and pianist Karol Szymanowski (1882-1937). In this composition, Szymanowski sets the translation by Tadeusz Miciński of the poem "Song of the Night" by 13th century Persian poet Jalaluddin Rumi. Although the symphony is in a single movement, it can be subdivided into three contrasting phases corresponding roughly to an invocation, scherzo and finale. The composer described his Third Symphony in a letter to Alexander Siloti, who was planning to lead its premiere:

"The 'Symphony' lasts 20-22 m. and it could be called a symphonic poem. (Its other title is Chant de la Nuit [...]). However, as I am organically averse to 'Symphonic poems' (as a title), it had better stayed a symphony (the third one in order). [...] The tenor's solo in the 'Symph.' is very significant and lasts for a little less than half of the symphony's duration. It seems a very satisfying material for a singer; it is more melodic than declamatory and takes quite a big and graceful, lyrically coloured voice. The choir is rather episodic, except for the initial part, where it has a major role; the style is more harmon[ic] than polyphon[ic]; there is no text in several places."

Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji, the English pianist-composer of Parsi parentage, wrote of the impression Szymanowski's Third Symphony made on him:

"Szymanowski took a poem celebrating the beauty, the enigmatic and transcendental beauty of the Eastern night, the like of which one never sees anywhere in Europe, except Sicily which belongs just as much to the East as it does to the West. Based on this poem, he wrote music with a radiant purity of spirit, elevated ecstasy of expression, music permeated with the very essence of the choicest and rarest specimens of Iranian art - the entire score glows with a wonderful colour, rich but never blinding, nor severe, like Persian paintings or silk rugs - this intuition is unprecedented in Western music."

Polish sung text:

O, nie śpij, druhu, nocy tej.
Tyś jest Duch, a myśmy chorzy nocy tej.
Odpedź z oczu Twoich sen! Nocy tej!
Tajemnica sie rozwidni. Nocy tej!
Tyś jest Jowisz na niebiosach,
wśród gwiazd krażysz firmamentu, nocy tej!
Nad otchlanie orla pedź!
Bohaterem jest Twój Duch nocy tej!
O, nie spij, druhu, nocy tej!

Jak cicho. Inni śpia.
Ja i Bóg jesteśmy sami, nocy tej!
Jaki szum! Wschodzi szczeście,
prawda skrzydłem opromienia nocy tej!
Nie śpij, druhu, nocy tej,

Gdybym przespałaż do ranka,
już bym nigdy nie odzyskałnocy tej!
Targowiska już uclchly,
Patrz na rynek gwiezdnych dróg nocy tej!
Lew i Orion,
Andromeda I Merkury krwawo lśni nocy tej!
Wpływ złowieszczy miota Saturn,
Wenus płynie w złotym dżdżu nocy tej!
Zamilknieciem wiaże jezyk,
lecz ja mówie bez jezyka nocy tej!
- Rumi

English translation:

Oh! Sleep not my dearest friend this night.
This night you are Spirit, while we are only sick.
This night do not allow your eyes to close and sleep!
This night the mystery reveals itself!
This night you are Jupiter in the sky,
who circles round the firmament of stars!
Run over the eagle's abyss!
This night your Spirit is a hero!
Oh! Sleep not my dearest friend this night!

How peaceful it is. All the world is sleeping.
This night God and I are alone!
What clamour! Joy has its birth,
and the winged truth shine forth this night!
Sleep not my dearest friend this night!

Were I to sleep till morning
This night would be forever lost!
Markets are already hushed but,
Lo! Regard the market of the stars this night!
This night Leo and Orion,
Andromeda and Mercury shine crimson!
This night Saturn casts his malign control and
Venus sails in the golden drizzle!
Surrounding silence ties my tongue but
I speak without my tongue this night!
- Rumi

Conductor: Karol Stryja
Polish State Philharmonic Orchestra, Katowice