Violin Concerto in A major (Respighi)
Encyclopedia
The Violin Concerto
in A major, P. 49 (Concerto per Violino in La Maggiore) is Ottorino Respighi
's first violin concerto, which was left unfinished by the composer in 1903, and then completed by Salvatore Di Vittorio
in 2009.
is scored for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets in A, two bassoons, four horns in F, two trumpets in A, timpani
and strings
.
There is no break or pause between the first and second movements.
Duration is approximately 21 minutes.
The work is mostly inspired by the violin concertos and other orchestral compositions of Antonio Vivaldi
, Felix Mendelssohn
, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
and Max Bruch
. The middle movement is inspired by the music of Claude Debussy
.
Respighi had completed the first two movements of the concerto, and left the introduction of a third movement in piano reduction, with only a few measures orchestrated. In 2007, Respighi's descendants in collaboration with Respighi archive curator/cataloguer Potito Pedarra invited composer/conductor Salvatore Di Vittorio to complete the concerto and edit other early Respighi works, for publication in Italy. Using the autograph manuscripts, Di Vittorio has edited the first two movements, orchestrated the extant (pianoforte) introduction of the third movement, and then completed the concerto following Respighi's vision using rondo form.
Respighi's first Violin Concerto in A major foreshadows his later violin concertos and other orchestral works, including Pines of Rome and Trittico Botticeliano.
on February 13, 2010 at the Church of St. Jean Baptiste in New York. The concerto was recorded for Naxos Records
:8.572332.
Violin concerto
A violin concerto is a concerto for solo violin and instrumental ensemble, customarily orchestra. Such works have been written since the Baroque period, when the solo concerto form was first developed, up through the present day...
in A major, P. 49 (Concerto per Violino in La Maggiore) is Ottorino Respighi
Ottorino Respighi
Ottorino Respighi was an Italian composer, musicologist and conductor. He is best known for his orchestral "Roman trilogy": Fountains of Rome ; Pines of Rome ; and Roman Festivals...
's first violin concerto, which was left unfinished by the composer in 1903, and then completed by Salvatore Di Vittorio
Salvatore Di Vittorio
Salvatore Di Vittorio is an Italian composer and conductor. He is Music Director and Conductor of the Chamber Orchestra of New York "Ottorino Respighi".-Biography:...
in 2009.
Instrumentation
The concertoConcerto
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...
is scored for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets in A, two bassoons, four horns in F, two trumpets in A, timpani
Timpani
Timpani, or kettledrums, are musical instruments in the percussion family. A type of drum, they consist of a skin called a head stretched over a large bowl traditionally made of copper. They are played by striking the head with a specialized drum stick called a timpani stick or timpani mallet...
and strings
String section
The string section is the largest body of the standard orchestra and consists of bowed string instruments of the violin family.It normally comprises five sections: the first violins, the second violins, the violas, the cellos, and the double basses...
.
Movements
The concerto is in three movements:- Allegro energetico (A major)
- Molto lento, Agitato, Tranquillo (E major)
- Allegro rondo (A major)
There is no break or pause between the first and second movements.
Duration is approximately 21 minutes.
History
The concerto was left unfinished by Respighi in 1903, probably due to his focus on other projects. The work pre-dates the composer’s other completed violin concerti: Concerto All’Antica in A minor (1908), Concerto Gregoriano (1921), and the single movement Poema Autunnale (1925).The work is mostly inspired by the violin concertos and other orchestral compositions of Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Vivaldi
Antonio Lucio Vivaldi , nicknamed because of his red hair, was an Italian Baroque composer, priest, and virtuoso violinist, born in Venice. Vivaldi is recognized as one of the greatest Baroque composers, and his influence during his lifetime was widespread over Europe...
, Felix Mendelssohn
Felix Mendelssohn
Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Barthóldy , use the form 'Mendelssohn' and not 'Mendelssohn Bartholdy'. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians gives ' Felix Mendelssohn' as the entry, with 'Mendelssohn' used in the body text...
, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
and Max Bruch
Max Bruch
Max Christian Friedrich Bruch , also known as Max Karl August Bruch, was a German Romantic composer and conductor who wrote over 200 works, including three violin concertos, the first of which has become a staple of the violin repertoire.-Life:Bruch was born in Cologne, Rhine Province, where he...
. The middle movement is inspired by the music of Claude Debussy
Claude Debussy
Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. Along with Maurice Ravel, he was one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions...
.
Respighi had completed the first two movements of the concerto, and left the introduction of a third movement in piano reduction, with only a few measures orchestrated. In 2007, Respighi's descendants in collaboration with Respighi archive curator/cataloguer Potito Pedarra invited composer/conductor Salvatore Di Vittorio to complete the concerto and edit other early Respighi works, for publication in Italy. Using the autograph manuscripts, Di Vittorio has edited the first two movements, orchestrated the extant (pianoforte) introduction of the third movement, and then completed the concerto following Respighi's vision using rondo form.
Respighi's first Violin Concerto in A major foreshadows his later violin concertos and other orchestral works, including Pines of Rome and Trittico Botticeliano.
World Premiere and Recording
The concerto received its world premiere with the Chamber Orchestra of New York under conductor Salvatore Di VittorioSalvatore Di Vittorio
Salvatore Di Vittorio is an Italian composer and conductor. He is Music Director and Conductor of the Chamber Orchestra of New York "Ottorino Respighi".-Biography:...
on February 13, 2010 at the Church of St. Jean Baptiste in New York. The concerto was recorded for Naxos Records
Naxos Records
Naxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest...
:8.572332.