Violin Concerto (Mendelssohn)

The Violin Concerto in E minor, Op 64 (MWV O 14) is a large orchestral work of composer Felix Mendelssohn. Already in July 1838 Mendelssohn had his friend, the violinist Ferdinand David announced, "I want you probably also make a violin concerto for next winter; one in E minor is in my head, the beginning of which leaves me no peace. "

However, six years later, in 1844, the Violin Concerto in Bad Soden was completed. It was first performed on 13 March 1845 in Leipzig with Ferdinand David as soloist.

Already in 1822 at the age of 13 years Mendelssohn had written a violin concerto in D minor. The rejected by Mendelssohn Youth Office was opened to the general public by Yehudi Menuhin.

Orchestration

Solo violin, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, timpani and strings.

About the Music

Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto contains some compositional innovations. For example, it contains a hitherto unusual seamless transition from the first to the second set. Also the main theme of the first movement is heard in the solo instrument, the violin, and not, as usual, in the orchestra. Also can Mendelssohn cadence contrary to the habits do not sound at the end of the first set, but already in the implementation.

First movement (Allegro molto appassionato )

After a brief introduction of the orchestra, the violin as early as the second clock with a sweeping theme that is accompanied in the background by the strings; during the development of the theme, the orchestra responds with brief but specific to Tutti word. Subsequently, the orchestra takes the theme of the violin and it varies, followed by a dialog with the violin alternately the strings and then followed by the winds. Then it is up to the winds to pick up a variation on the theme that is repeated by the violin and with accompaniment of wind instruments, the repeat its variation between short changed. Suddenly repeated the violin, this time more vigorously, her main theme and tried the accompaniment of the orchestra as if driven all possible variations. A crescendo of the orchestra finished the variations; now is the violin with the cadence at the line. After the cadenza, the orchestra repeated in the piano the main theme of the movement and is accompanied by the soloist at a fast arpeggio. The violin takes it to vary the theme; after a while occur alternately the winds and the strings as accompaniment added. A dialogue between violin and orchestra leads slowly but surely to a number of powerful chords that given the task of the bassoon to revert to the second set.

1st movement, allegro molto appassionato. It plays the Fulda Symphonic Orchestra. ( File? )

Second movement (Andante )

After the reconciliation of the bassoon is continued by the strings, the violin responds with a wistful theme to word whose development is accompanied by the violin by the strings. In the middle of a sentence is a mellifluous melody of the orchestra, which is repeated by the violin and varies with a painful undertone. These variations are taken up by the orchestra accompanied the violin. The violin continues the accompaniment of the orchestra with the variations, until it finally picks up her main theme of the second movement. Leading the peaceful development of the melody leads to the end of the sentence that is marked by the solo violin.

2nd movement, Andante. It plays the Fulda Symphonic Orchestra. ( File? )

3rd movement (Allegretto non troppo - Allegro molto vivace )

After an introduction by the violin sounds a Bläserfanfare; this is followed by a serene melody of the violin. There ensues a lively dialogue between violin and orchestra until it comes up with a new theme which is taken up and will vary from the violin. This in turn opens into a lively dialogue between violin and orchestra, to the violin plays again their serene melody from the beginning of the sentence and further developed with accompaniment of strings, where the orchestra also announces with his subject to speak. Chords of violin and orchestra finish the concert.

3rd movement, Allegro molto vivace. It plays the Fulda Symphonic Orchestra. ( File? )

Effect

The Violin Concerto was from the beginning a success and is now one of Mendelssohn's most popular works. In the 19th century, at the end it was already considered one of the greatest violin concertos in the literature, it belonged to the repertoire of leading violinist Ferdinand David as Joseph Joachim and Pablo de Sarasate. Also subsequent composers such as Jean Sibelius and Tchaikovsky were, for example, inspired by the unusual placement of the cadenza.