Church Bells

Memories of My Childhood is the name of Charles Martin Loeffler's new symphonic poem. He reminisces in music of a time when he did not know he would be a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, nor a famous composer. Opening with church bells, the poem sings of a Russian village, Smiela, where as a boy Loeffler heard "Russian peasant songs, the Yonrod's Litany-prayer, fairy tales and dance songs." Here is a novelty. So far, it has been given only by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.