A Violin Concerto

A violin concerto in traditional format. This is actually the first formal piece I wrote. Enjoy.

A Violin Concerto

Very impressive ... Your harmonic language is very distinct and unique ... Very neoromantic ... I would say. Who are your influences? Which leads us to the structural questions. It is a one-movement work, no doubt. But is it in sonata form? Is it a fantasia with two contrasting themes consisting only of development and a coda? But what is the second theme? The allegro episode? What is the significance of the introduction? How are the many episodes related? How many clearly-defined sections are there in this work? Six? Five? Four? Or maybe even three! I hope you can provide some light on the structure of your puzzling and intriguing work. I am very much impressed with what you wrote here, and I am certain that one day your name will be etched in common repertoire.

Thank you for your comments. Who are my influences? I am self-taught. I listen to very little other music except for that of a few of my peers (Alan Belkin, Michel Edward). I am completely disinterested in and annoyed by arguments about whether music should be tonal, atonal, or whatever; nor am I intersted at all in "historical" music (those trying to imitate masters from the past). Music is what it is: here and now. At this date in history we can chose from a huge variety of tools unavailable to prior generations. To dismiss a group of tools is to cut off one's arm (musically speaking).

No it is not in sonata form; that forum has been pretty well worked to death. However, it is in three (connected) movements generally following the pattern of a "classical" concerto. The first few notes announce the central motif of the rising fourths with the semitone dropoffs (traditionally "sighs") setting up the conflicts between rising hopefulness and regret. It is the basis of the themes (for example, the Adagio © and Moderato piu mosso (D). Pretty much sums up my life. I guess you could call it "neo-romantic."

Thanks for responding. Sorry to be difficult.

bravo

I see. I notice that the the many sections were rather disconnected in terms of tempo and style (though they derive from the same material from the adagio), but now that you say it is a three-movement work, connected, it makes sense. I'm guessing that the Andante and Allegro is one movement, the Adagio is the second, and the Moderato piu mosso - Allegro is the finale.

On the discussion of music ... I completely agree that arguments whether music should be tonal or atonal is completely pointless. And I agree that imitating past masters is beyond reproachable. But I disagree that we should dismiss all development of music to this point. Every major composer of his generation had something to teach us. Polyphony is still very much used in contemporary times. So are the many strategies in balancing large forms from the great Classical and Romantic masters. I think that all of have nothing to lose and everything to gain by inspecting, once in a while, the music of others.

I haven't said we should "dismiss all development of music to this point;" I intended to say the opposite. I've just seen far too many people on the Internet who bought a notation package and assume that if they imitate Beethoven closely enough (even if they don't have a clue how he worked), they will be regarded as geniuses.

I got my back up when I looked at the categories available to define my musical style and saw it was so limited. Too often people have told me they hate contemporary music because it is all dissonance--or some such nonsense.

I think you might agree that I have a genuine talent, but I am never going to be performed. There are so many people clamouring for attention, whether they can write or not, that they drown out the rest of us. So, I'll just stay in my little community, write whatever I fancy, and maybe toss some out there on the web from time to time in case anyone else enjoys it. That's not defeatism--it's reality.

A violin concerto in traditional format. This is actually the first formal piece I wrote. Enjoy.

A Violin Concerto

Ron, I can only add my respect.

If I can hazard a crude characterization, your idiom reminds somewhat of Karl Amadeus Hartmann. Are your familiar with his work? I'm thinking of his Concerto Funebre, especially.

Keep it up!

Ron, I can only add my respect.

If I can hazard a crude characterization, your idiom reminds somewhat of Karl Amadeus Hartmann. Are your familiar with his work? I'm thinking of his Concerto Funebre, especially.

Keep it up!

Sorry, I am not familiar with Hartmann's work, though I just read the Wiki article and am intreged. I'll see what I can find of his. Thanks for the tip.

Ron

Wow this is.. eerie. It's really good. The violin melody line... is mysteriously evocative. Great job.

Very modern in style and harmony. Just a question, do you play the violin? or have you been in contact with someone to help you with the violin part? there are some parts that are very uncomfortable for the hand here.

Very modern in style and harmony. Just a question, do you play the violin? or have you been in contact with someone to help you with the violin part? there are some parts that are very uncomfortable for the hand here.

I played the violin for several years; it is so engrained that I measure intervals by finger positions. Yes, the 2nd cadenza is particularly difficult, but, it is a concerto after all.

Thanks for the comments.