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Concerto for 2 Violins, Strings, and Continuo in D Minor, BWV 1043: I. Vivace. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). This is Bach’s only concerto for 2 violins (2 soloists). Composed for strings and continuo (note the use of the harpsichord). Note the long introduction before the soloists appear.
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Concerto for 2 Violins, Strings, and Continuo in D Minor, BWV 1043: I. Vivace • Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) • This is Bach’s only concerto for 2 violins (2 soloists) • Composed for strings and continuo (note the use of the harpsichord) • Note the long introduction before the soloists appear • Listen for the interplay between the solo violins • Listen for repetitions (at least partial or altered) of the opening orchestral material that serves as bridges between the passages played by the soloists • Note how the music maintains a constant rhythmic pulse – called “motor-rhythmic” – this is common for music of the Baroque
Violin concerto in E minor, Op. 64: III. Allegro Molto Vivace • Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) • Violin concerto in 3 movements, premiered in 1845 • Composed for a particular soloist in mind, his childhood friend Ferdinand David • Unique in the fact that the three movements are linked, with no pause between them • Composed for violin soloist and full classical orchestra (not as large an orchestra as Brahms used) • Eliminates long orchestral introduction that was common before (note the trumpet fanfare that begins the movement • Structured in sonata form (exposition, development, recapitulation – and coda) • Note how the solo violin part is technically demanding – Mendelssohn conferred constantly with David over a 6-year period composing the piece
Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26: Vorspiel (Allegro Moderato) • Max Bruch (1838-1920) • German composer, teacher, and conductor of the Romantic Era • Composed over 200 pieces, including 3 violin concertos • His Violin Concerto #1 in G minor employs many of the same techniques as Mendelssohn’s, including eliminating the long orchestral introduction and linking of the three movements • Note the opening of the soloist’s material is almost improvisational • Listen for how the solo part is technically demanding (like Mendelssohn) • Listen also for the frequent use of “double-stops” by the soloist (two notes played simultaneously) and trills (rapidly moving back and forth between two notes) • Music is passionate, seductive, full of emotion • Not as structured as Classical and Baroque works (unlike Mendelssohn’s concerto) • New melodies, ideas are introduced throughout • there are many changes in tempo and mood throughout • Listen for the opening “improvisatory” solo material returns towards the end