cristiangscheidel,
People have asked me this question dozens of times.
Guess what: listening to this thirty or forty years ago, I would have asked the same thing. I was writing songs and composing classical music at the time.
My reply: it definitely is not a classical type Symphony. But as far as I see it, the concept of what "is" a Symphony has changed, starting early in the 20th century. Many composers call their pieces "Symphony" to indicate scale and scope, and seriousness of intent, rather than "symphonic sound" and "sonata form".
This piece is a binding together and culmination of much of what has occupied my mind and what I have been working on for decades. I composed the oldest motif I am using here (not in this movement, though) almost 25 years ago.
I could have, perhaps, called it "concerto for chamber ensemble and string orchestra", and people would have asked "Where are the Cadenzas?"
Or what about "soundscape with symphonic landmarks"?
Ah, well… I am calling it "The Symphony Of The Earth". It's a cool title, and it is an indication of my approach to the project. There are at least 8 months work left on it, and I can promise you, the whole piece will come across as a lot more "symphonic" than this small section of it now, and you'll be able to see a clear structure - a sort of "Sonata Logic". But it will never be a "classical" Symphony… I reckon I could compose one of those in about 2 to 4 weeks, anyway...
hey, and thanks for listening!