Violin Concerto No. 1 (Bruch)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Concerto No. 1 in G minor for violin and orchestra, op. 26, was begun in 1864 and finished in 1867 by Max Bruch. It was dedicated to Bruch's friend, the virtuoso violinist Joseph Joachim. One of the most beloved pieces in the genre, Bruch's first violin concerto continues to be performed and recorded by many violinists.
The format of the concerto is as follows:
The first movement is unusual in that it is a Vorspiel, a prelude and it, indeed, serves as a prelude to the second movement and is directly linked to it. The impression it gives towards listeners, is almost like a smooth army march. The first note is unvibrated and unexaggerated. The melody is first taken by flutes, then the ravishing solo violin becomes audible.
The slow second movement is adored for its ravishing melody.
The third movement, the finale, opens with a few subdued bars of orchestral introduction that yield to the soloist's statement of the exuberant theme in double stops. The second subject is a fine example of Romantic lyricism.
The concerto is also unusual in that Bruch declined to provide a cadenza of his own for the work or allow for the insertion of a cadenza by the soloist. Although Bruch composed two more concertos for the violin, this one is the best-known Bruch Violin Concerto.
[edit] External link
- Program notes for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by Richard Freed
 |
This article about a classical composition is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
