Concertino for Harpsichord and String Orchestra
Encyclopedia
Concertino for Harpsichord and String Orchestra is a short harpsichord
concerto
written in 1934 by English
composer Walter Leigh
. It was premiered by the English composer and pianist Elizabeth Poston
.
Movements:
In the first movement, a lively dialogue between soloist and orchestra culminates in a barred cadenza
for the harpsichord, followed by a repeat of the opening statement. The Andante is a [sarabande]-like movement, in ABA form. The ten-bar theme stated by the soloist is repeated by the orchestra. In the B section, elements from the first theme are reassembled into new motives. The first theme is shared between cello
s and violin
s on its return, with the harpsichord playing accompanying arpeggio
s. The last movement is in 6/8 and abounds in cross-rhythms; a number of short themes succeed each other rapidly. A short cadenza leads to a reprise incorporating themes from all three of the movements.
Piano
has occasionally replaced harpsichord in performance, owing to the relative obscurity of the harpsichord at the time of composition, and the economic demands of publishing.
It has been recorded by Trevor Pinnock
on Lyrita; George Malcolm
on BBC radio classics; Colin Tilney
on CBC and Neville Dilkes on EMI. A 1940s English Decca Records
recording of Kathleen Long
in the piano version has achieved compact disc
rerelease on the Dutton label.
Length: c. 9 minutes.
It is published by Oxford University Press
.
Harpsichord
A harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
concerto
Concerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
written in 1934 by English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
composer Walter Leigh
Walter Leigh
Walter Leigh was an English composer. Leigh is most famous for his Concertino for harpsichord and string orchestra, written in 1934. Other famous works include the overture Agincourt and The Frogs of Aristophanes for chorus and orchestra...
. It was premiered by the English composer and pianist Elizabeth Poston
Elizabeth Poston
Elizabeth Poston was an English composer, pianist, and writer. She studied at Queen Margaret's School, York and then the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she was encouraged by both Peter Warlock and Ralph Vaughan Williams. She won a prize from RAM for her violin sonata, which was...
.
Movements:
- Allegro
- Andante
- Allegro vivace
In the first movement, a lively dialogue between soloist and orchestra culminates in a barred cadenza
Cadenza
In music, a cadenza is, generically, an improvised or written-out ornamental passage played or sung by a soloist or soloists, usually in a "free" rhythmic style, and often allowing for virtuosic display....
for the harpsichord, followed by a repeat of the opening statement. The Andante is a [sarabande]-like movement, in ABA form. The ten-bar theme stated by the soloist is repeated by the orchestra. In the B section, elements from the first theme are reassembled into new motives. The first theme is shared between cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
s and violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
s on its return, with the harpsichord playing accompanying arpeggio
Arpeggio
An arpeggio is a musical technique where notes in a chord are played or sung in sequence, one after the other, rather than ringing out simultaneously...
s. The last movement is in 6/8 and abounds in cross-rhythms; a number of short themes succeed each other rapidly. A short cadenza leads to a reprise incorporating themes from all three of the movements.
Piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
has occasionally replaced harpsichord in performance, owing to the relative obscurity of the harpsichord at the time of composition, and the economic demands of publishing.
It has been recorded by Trevor Pinnock
Trevor Pinnock
Trevor David Pinnock CBE is an English conductor, harpsichordist, and occasional organist and pianist.He is best known for his association with the period-performance orchestra The English Concert which he helped found and directed from the keyboard for over 30 years in baroque and early classical...
on Lyrita; George Malcolm
George Malcolm (musician)
George Malcolm CBE was an English harpsichordist and conductor.Malcolm's first instrument was the piano, and his first teacher was a nun who recognised his talent and recommended him to the Royal College of Music. Malcolm went on to study at Balliol College, Oxford...
on BBC radio classics; Colin Tilney
Colin Tilney
-Education and professional life:Born in London, Tilney studied music and modern languages at Cambridge University, studied harpsichord with Mary Potts at Kings College, Cambridge, and became a student of Gustav Leonhardt...
on CBC and Neville Dilkes on EMI. A 1940s English Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
recording of Kathleen Long
Kathleen Long
Kathleen Long CBE was a British pianist and teacher. She was an awarded soloist, but was also a much appreciated chamber music player and recitalist. Her tours included Europe, North America and South Africa....
in the piano version has achieved compact disc
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
rerelease on the Dutton label.
Length: c. 9 minutes.
It is published by Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
.