Northwestern Alum Howard Hanson's "Romantic" Symphony

Howard Harold Hanson, one of our most famous 20th century composers, was best known for Symphony No. 2 (“Romantic”). The Evanston Symphony Orchestra will showcase this sweeping work at its March 15 concert.

Hanson, who was also a conductor, educator and music theorist, served as director of the Eastman School of Music for 40 years. He also has a personal connection to Evanston: He received his bachelor’s degree in music from Northwestern University.

Just a few years after beginning his post at Eastman, Serge Koussevitsky, the music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, commissioned Hanson to write the piece in honor of the Boston Symphony’s 50th anniversary. (To wit: Works were commissioned from many composers on this project, and more of these have become standard repertory pieces than from any other such project.) Hanson’s symphony premiered on Nov. 28, 1930, with Koussevitsky conducting the Boston Symphony.

The thematic symphony, which displays the power of the brass and winds sections, contains three movements. It may be most famous today for a theme that first appears in the first movement and is reprised throughout the work. This theme is performed at the conclusion of all concerts at the prestigious Interlochen Center for the Arts camp in Michigan. Traditionally, a student concertmaster conducts the theme — now referred to as the “Interlochen Theme” — after the featured conductor has left the stage; no applause follows its performance.