KNOW YOUR CLASSICS

New Zealand Listener, Volume 20, Issue 512, 14 April 1949, Page 13

KNOW YOUR CLASSICS

"THIS is one of a further series of articles written for "The Listener"

by

BESSIE

POLLARD

As with the preceding series, published |

some time ago, the aim is to help the student and the interested | listener towards a more complete appreciation of good music. (15) Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47 (Sibelius) SIBELIUS'S Violin Concerto in D Minor was composed in 1903, but the work was’ revised and rewritten two years later, when the new version received its first. performance in Germany under Richard Strauss, with Carl Halir as soloist. The Concerto is scored for the ordinary "classical" orchestra-two flutes; oboes; clarinets and bassoons; four horns; two trumpets; three trombones; two kettledrums, and the usual strings. This reticent orchestration is complemented by the effective brilliance of the solo violin. The lengthy chief theme of the opening movement (about 30 bars) is given out by the soloist at the beginning. I quote two ideas from this main subjectthe beginning motif ("A" below) and the striking figure on the G string which appears approximately 18 bars later ("B" below)- :

After some development by soloist and orchestra we hear two related themes which might be considered the second subject ("A" and "B" below)-

Two additional themes of a decidedly Finnish origin play an important part in the exposition (or setting-out of thematic material) section of this movement ("A" and SB" below)-

An unusual feature is the position of the Cadenza. In the classical Concerto this occurs towards the end of the movement, but Sibelius places it after what might be termed, loosely, the exposition of the movement. The slow movement-adagio di molto-begins with a five-bar introduction in which the wood-winds predominate; then the principal subject is heard-("A" below) some 20 bars in length and of a rather Latin character; "B" below features an ingratiating wood-wind motif derived from the introduction, :

The soloist presents the energetic principal theme of the Finale ("A" below) while the second subject ("B" below), another strong typically Finnish melody, is announced by the orchestra- F

The brilliant figurations given to the soloist make this Finale a highly personal and individual movement. They reach a climax in complexity and difficulty in the finale pages of thé score. Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Minor, Op. 47 (Sibelius) will be heard in Station 3YA’s Classical Hour, at 3.0 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, ;