Violin Concerto No. 1 (Bruch)
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Max Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26, is one of the most popular violin concertos in the repertoire. It continues to be performed and recorded by many violinists and is arguably Bruch's most famous composition.
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[edit] History
The concerto was first completed in 1866 and the first performance was given on 24 April 1866 by Otto von Königslow with Bruch himself conducting. The concerto was then considerably revised with help from celebrated violinist Joseph Joachim and completed in its present form in 1867. The première of the revised concerto was given by Joachim in Bremen on 5 January 1868 with Karl Martin Rheinthaler conducting.[1]
[edit] Instrumentation
The work is scored for solo violin and a standard classical orchestra consisting of two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, two trumpets, timpani, and strings.[1]
[edit] Movements
The concerto is in three movements:
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.
Bruch composed two more violin concertos, but neither are as well known as his first. The first is so famous that it is often referred to simply as "The Bruch" in classical music circles.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Program notes for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by Richard Freed
- Piano reduction of Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 was available at the International Music Score Library Project.
Violin Concertos by Max Bruch |
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No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26 · No. 2 in D minor, Op. 44 · No. 3 in D minor, Op. 58 · Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46 · Serenade in A minor, Op. 75 |
fr:Concerto pour violon n° 1 de Bruch ko:바이올린 협주곡 1번 (브루흐) ja:ヴァイオリン協奏曲第1番 (ブルッフ)
