Violin Concerto No. 1 (Shostakovich)
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| + | The '''Violin Concerto No. 1''' in A minor, Opus 77, was originally composed by [[Dmitri Shostakovich]] in 1947–48. He was still working on the piece at the time of the [[Zhdanov decree]], and in the period following the composer's denunciation it could not be performed. In the time between the work's initial completion and the first performance, the composer, sometimes with the collaboration of its dedicatee, [[David Oistrakh]], worked on a number of revisions. The concerto was finally premiered by the [[Leningrad Philharmonic]] under [[Yevgeny Mravinsky]] on 29 October 1955. It was well received, Oistrakh remarking on the "depth of its artistic content" and describing the violin part as a "pithy 'Shakespearian' role". | ||
| + | Oistrakh characterised the first [[movement (music)|movement]] Nocturne as "a suppression of feelings", and the second movement Scherzo as "demoniac". The Scherzo is also notable for an appearance by the [[DSCH motif]]—a motif representing Shostakovich himself that recurs in many of the composer's works. Boris Schwarz (''Music and Musical Life in Soviet Russia'', 1972) commented on the Passacaglia's "lapidary grandeur" and the Burlesque's "devil-may-care abandonment". | ||
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| + | ==Structure== | ||
| + | The concerto lasts around 35 minutes and comprises four movements, with a [[cadenza]] linking the final two: | ||
| + | {{ordered list|list_style_type=upper-roman | ||
| + | |[[Nocturne]]: [[wikt:Moderato|Moderato]] (A minor) – a semi-homage to the first movement of [[Elgar]]'s [[Cello Concerto (Elgar)|Cello Concerto]].{{Citation needed|date=July 2019}} | ||
| + | |[[Scherzo]]: [[wikt:allegro|Allegro]] (B-flat minor → B-flat major) – demonic dance. The DSCH motif can be heard in the background at times, with a final appearance near the end in the solo violin part. | ||
| + | |[[Passacaglia]]: [[Andante (tempo)|Andante]] – [[Cadenza]] ([[attacca]]) (F minor) – utilizes Beethoven's [[Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)|fate motif]], incorporating it into the pre-[[burlesque]] cadenza. The DSCH motif is incorporated into a set of chords in the cadenza. | ||
| + | |[[Burlesque]]: [[wikt:Allegro|Allegro]] [[Tempo#Common qualifiers|con brio]] – [[Presto (music)|Presto]] (A minor) – the theme in the solo violin's entrance resembles that of the solo flute's entrance in [[Stravinsky]]'s ''[[Petrouchka]]''. | ||
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| + | ==Instrumentation== | ||
| + | The work is scored for solo violin, three [[flute]]s (3rd doubling [[piccolo]]), two [[oboe]]s, [[cor anglais]], three [[clarinet]]s (3rd doubling [[bass clarinet]]), two [[bassoon]]s, [[contrabassoon]], four [[French horn|horns]], [[tuba]], [[timpani]], [[tambourine]], [[tam-tam]], [[xylophone]], [[celesta]], two [[harp]]s, and [[string instrument|strings]]. | ||
| + | Unusually, the score omits trumpets and [[trombones]]. | ||
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| + | ==Opus number== | ||
| + | The concerto is sometimes numbered Opus 99, although because of the delay between composition and performance, it was originally listed as Opus 77. Because of the uncertainty of the political climate, Shostakovich shelved the concerto until after Stalin's demise, then sanctioned its first public performance of the concerto as Opus 99. For this reason, Opus 77 was then allocated to Three Pieces for Orchestra—a work little known outside of Russia and a circle of Shostakovich scholars.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} | ||
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| + | ==Importance== | ||
| + | The First Violin Concerto was composed during the post-war years in Soviet Russia (1947–48), a time of [[censorship in the Soviet Union|severe censorship]]. A new censorship decree had been issued in 1934 that required advance screenings of concerts, plays, and ballets at least ten days prior to their premieres, and seats in the concert halls were reserved for censors. Grounds for banning a work included [[anti-Soviet propaganda]], lack of proper ideological perspective, and the lack of perceived artistic merit. In the 1950s, the focus of Soviet censorship shifted to literary works. | ||
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Revision as of 07:52, 24 April 2021
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"Burlesque, derived from burla, can be used to describe particular movements of instrumental musical compositions, often involving dance rhythms. Examples are the Burlesca, in Partita No. 3 for keyboard (BWV 827) by Bach, the "Rondo-Burleske" third movement of Symphony No. 9 by Mahler, and the "Burlesque" fourth movement of Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1."--Sholem Stein |
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The Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Opus 77, was originally composed by Dmitri Shostakovich in 1947–48. He was still working on the piece at the time of the Zhdanov decree, and in the period following the composer's denunciation it could not be performed. In the time between the work's initial completion and the first performance, the composer, sometimes with the collaboration of its dedicatee, David Oistrakh, worked on a number of revisions. The concerto was finally premiered by the Leningrad Philharmonic under Yevgeny Mravinsky on 29 October 1955. It was well received, Oistrakh remarking on the "depth of its artistic content" and describing the violin part as a "pithy 'Shakespearian' role".
Oistrakh characterised the first movement Nocturne as "a suppression of feelings", and the second movement Scherzo as "demoniac". The Scherzo is also notable for an appearance by the DSCH motif—a motif representing Shostakovich himself that recurs in many of the composer's works. Boris Schwarz (Music and Musical Life in Soviet Russia, 1972) commented on the Passacaglia's "lapidary grandeur" and the Burlesque's "devil-may-care abandonment".
Contents |
Structure
The concerto lasts around 35 minutes and comprises four movements, with a cadenza linking the final two: Template:Ordered list
Instrumentation
The work is scored for solo violin, three flutes (3rd doubling piccolo), two oboes, cor anglais, three clarinets (3rd doubling bass clarinet), two bassoons, contrabassoon, four horns, tuba, timpani, tambourine, tam-tam, xylophone, celesta, two harps, and strings. Unusually, the score omits trumpets and trombones.
Opus number
The concerto is sometimes numbered Opus 99, although because of the delay between composition and performance, it was originally listed as Opus 77. Because of the uncertainty of the political climate, Shostakovich shelved the concerto until after Stalin's demise, then sanctioned its first public performance of the concerto as Opus 99. For this reason, Opus 77 was then allocated to Three Pieces for Orchestra—a work little known outside of Russia and a circle of Shostakovich scholars.Template:Citation needed
Importance
The First Violin Concerto was composed during the post-war years in Soviet Russia (1947–48), a time of severe censorship. A new censorship decree had been issued in 1934 that required advance screenings of concerts, plays, and ballets at least ten days prior to their premieres, and seats in the concert halls were reserved for censors. Grounds for banning a work included anti-Soviet propaganda, lack of proper ideological perspective, and the lack of perceived artistic merit. In the 1950s, the focus of Soviet censorship shifted to literary works.
