Like many Hartmann symphonies, the fifth is a revision of an earlier work. In fact, this was a double revision: In 1932/1933 he wrote a "Concerto (or Concertino) for Trumpet and Wind." He revised it in 1949 as "Concerto for Wind ensemble, Double Basses, and Two Solo trumpets." It is the composer's shortest multi-movement symphony, the most neo-classical of the eight symphonies, and uses the smallest orchestra (double woodwinds plus piccolo and contrabassoon, two trumpets, two trombones, cellos, and double basses).

The two trumpets are the dominant voice in the opening movement, whose German tempo marking means "Lively." The mood is light, with something of the sound of the Kurt Weill music that was a new force in German music in the days towards the end of the Weimar Republic, when Hartmann wrote the original version.

The second movement is a homage to Stravinsky. It opens with a clarinet theme, and the homage becomes explicit with the bassoon enters with a variant of the opening theme for that instrument in Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring." The treatment of this theme, though, is very different. The center of the movement is a sudden shift to a fast tempo, making a brief sketch of a scherzo, with elements of parody.

The finale is in a form which is a hint of a rondo. There are quotations of earlier themes, including the "Rite of Spring" material. The final version of the symphony was premiered in Stuttgart on April 21, 1951, with Hans MŸller-Kray conducting the South German Braodcasting Orchestra.

© Joseph Stevenson, All Music Guide