Csárdás (or Czardas) is perhaps the most famous composition of Vittorio Monti. A rhapsodical concert piece written in 1904, it is a well-known folk piece based on a Hungarian csárdás.[1] It was originally composed for violin, mandolin or piano.[2] Nowadays, it is usually played on the violin, but can also be played as a piano solo, saxophone solo, on the accordion, as an orchestral arrangement, as a Tuba solo, or on glass bottles. The duration of the piece is about four and a half minutes.[2]
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The piece has seven different sections, each one of a different tempo and occasionally key. The first half of the piece is in D minor, then modulates to D major, back to D minor, and then finally finishes in D major. The first section is Andante Largo, followed by a large increase in speed to Allegro Vivo. This then slows down to Molto Meno. The piece then slows down more to Meno, Quasi Lento. The piece then suddenly picks up in pace and is at Allegro Vivace. It then slows down to Allegretto and finally to Molto Più Vivo. The tempo changes make the piece exciting and interesting, but even with all of these tempo changes, it is generally expected that there should be some rubato to add feeling to the piece.[3] There are also many different dynamic changes in the piece, ranging from pianissimo to fortissimo.
In the Meno, Quasi Lento section, the violin plays stopped harmonics. This involves the violinist placing their finger down on the note and playing another note, with the finger only just touching the string 5 semitones above. This gives the effect of the violin sounding two octaves (24 semitones) higher.
Lady Gaga uses this song as part of her background music in the song "Alejandro".
Louie C.K. used this song as part of the introduction to the Season 02, Episode 06 "Subway/Pamela" on his show "Louie".
The theme is also prominently featured in Awaara, a 1951 Bollywood movie.
It was a featured piece involving dueling violins in Unfaithfully Yours (1984 film)
The following albums have this piece included in their repertoire:[2]
| Title | Record Label | Recording Date |
|---|---|---|
| Gypsy Fire/Tzigane - Esin Engin Orchestra | EMI | 1990 |
| All Of The World's Most Beautiful Melodies | Chandos | 1995 |
| Angelic Winters | Concas-Mondragon | 2002 |
| Best Encores 100 | EMI Classics | 2009 |
| Clarinet Evergreens | Naxos | 1997 |
| Classical 2008 | EMI Classics | 2007 |
| Dances of the World | CD Accord | 2001 |
| Expressions: The Heart of the Tuba | MSR Classics | 2005 |
| Fantaisies Classiques | Atma Classique | 1993 |
| Favourite Flavours | Linus | 2005 |
| Hungarian Dances | Onyx | 2008 |
| Key to the Classics | Daisy Jopling and Bojan Dugic | 2008 |
| Lakatos: King of the Gypsy Violins | Capriccio | 1999 |
| Music by Monti, Fauré, Ravel, Gershwin et al. | Somm | 2007 |
| Once Upon A Time [DVD Video] | Analekta | |
| Polish Spirit [DVD Video] | EMI | 2007 |
| Portrait of an Artist: Arnold Jacobs | Summit | 2000 |
| Romance & Passion | Thorofon | 2001 |
| Salon Music at Schumann's Bar | Edel | 2005 |
| Salut Salon! Was kann das Herz dafur | Warner Bros. Records | |
| Saxomania | ASV | 1997 |
| Sommerkonzerte Zwischen Donau und Altmühl: Edition '97 | Audi | 1997 |
| Spanish Guitar Classics, Volume 2 | St. Clair | 1999 |
| The Budapest Gypsy Orchestra | Ode | |
| The Instruments of the Orchestra [Box Set] | Naxos | 2002 |
| The North Brass | Opening Day | 1998 |
| The Schiller Family in Concert | The Schiller Family | 2007 |
| The World's Most Beautiful Melodies, Vol. 5 | Chandos | 1994 |
| Tracked | Quartz | 2005 |
| Trio Sonata Concert | Gallo | 1993 |
| Vengerov and Virtuosi | EMI | 2001 |
| Vienna Nights | Premium Music | 1998 |
| Virtuoso | Decca | 2007 |
| Walking in the Air | ASV | 1992 |
| Yehudi Menuhin's Young Virtuosi | Classic FM | 1998 |
| Young Berlin Classics | PricewaterhouseCoopers | 2007 |