Concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 2 Op. 30
by Aarre Merikanto
Konzert für Violine und Orchester
Description
Possibly the finest of Merikanto's concertos, the second violin concerto was not performed until 1959, a year after his death. It is scored for a slightly smaller orchestra than usual that is mostly used with a light, airy chamber-music touch. The violin avoids the traditional show of virtuosity and in the opening movement floats in soaring melodies high above a landscape painted by the orchestra, slightly in the manner of the first violin concerto by Szymanowski. In the short slow movement the violin is accompanied throughout by a five-note pedal point chord. These two atonal movements are followed by a fugue more traditional in style that comes closer to Neoclassicism and Hindemith but that is, being constantly on the move, a fitting end to the concerto.
© Kimmo Korhonen, March 2000
(translated by © Susan Sinisalo)
Toinen viulukonsertto on ehkä Merikannon hienoin konsertto, mutta sen kantaesitys oli vasta 1959, vuosi säveltäjän kuoleman jälkeen. Teos on sävelletty normaalia hiukan pienemmälle orkesterille, jota käytetään pääosin kamarimusiikillisen ilmavasti. Viulun osuus karttaa perinteisiä virtuoosieleitä ja leijailee avausosassa laajakaarisine melodioineen korkealla orkesterin maalaaman maiseman yllä hiukan Szymanowskin ensimmäisen viulukonserton tapaan. Lyhyessä hitaassa osassa viulua säestää läpi osan soiva viisisävelinen urkupistesointu. Kahta sävelkieleltään atonaalista osaa seuraa tyyliltään perinteisempi fuuga, joka on lähempänä uusklassismia ja Hindemithiä mutta joka sopii silti liikkuvuudessaan hyvin konserton päätökseksi.
© Kimmo Korhonen, 3/2000
Instrumentation 3232 4100 00 2, cel, str:8-8-6-6-4, vln solo [ehn, cl in A.]
Instrument codes
Abbreviation | Instrument |
Woodwind | |
acl | alto clarinet |
afl | alto flute |
arec | alto recorder |
asax | alto saxophone |
barsax | baritone saxophone |
barhn | baritone horn |
bcl | bass clarinet |
bfl | bass flute |
bob | bass oboe |
bsax | bass saxophone |
bsn | bassoon |
cbsn | contrabassoon |
cl | clarinet |
ehn | English horn |
fl | flute |
hn | French horn |
ob | oboe |
pic | piccolo |
rec | recorder |
sax | saxophone |
srec | soprano recorder |
ssax | soprano saxophone |
trec | tenor recorder |
tsax | tenor saxophone |
Brass | |
ahn | alto horn |
atrb | altotrombone |
barhn | baritone horn |
btrb | bass trombone |
cornet | cornet |
euph | euphonium |
fhn | flugelhorn |
hn | French horn |
tba | tuuba |
thn | tenor horn |
trb | trombone |
trp | trumpet |
Percussion | |
dr | drums |
glock | glockenspiel |
mar | marimba |
perc | percussion |
timp | timpani |
vibr | vibraphone |
xyl | xylophone |
Strings | |
db | double bass |
gamba | viola da gamba |
str | strings |
vla | viola |
vlc | cello |
vln | violin |
Other | |
acc | accordion |
cel | celesta |
cemb | harpsichord |
chords | chords |
elbas | electric bass |
elg | electric guitar |
elorg | electric organ |
elpno | electric piano |
guit | guitar |
harm | harmonium |
hca | harmonica |
hp | harp |
instr | instrument |
kantele | kantele |
keyb | keyboard |
live electr | live electronics |
mand | mandolin |
mel | melody |
org | organ |
pno | piano |
synth | synthesizer |
tape | tape |
Vocal | |
alto | alto |
baryt | baritone |
basso | bass voice |
ch | choir |
chc | childrens choir |
chf | female choir |
chm | male choir |
chx | mixed choir |
cten | countertenor |
mezzo | mezzo-soprano |
sopr | soprano |
speaker | speaker |
ten | tenor |
voc | vocal |
Coding for instrument ensembles and orchestras
Symphony orchestra | |
2222 4331 11 1, str = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 French horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, one other percussionist, harp and strings |
Wind band | |
2252 3 423 21212 3 = 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 5 clarinets, 2 bassoons - 3 saxophones - 4 French horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones - 2 cornets, alto horn, 2 tenor horns, baritone horn, 2 tubas - 3 percussionists |
Big band | |
221 4 4, pno, guit, db, dr = 2 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, baritone saxophone, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, piano, guitar, double bass, drums |
Additional codes | |
+ | fl+pic = flutist doubles on piccolo |
/ | pno/org = can be played on either piano or organ |
lib | ad libitum |
obl | obligato |
str | str: 65432 = specified number of string players |
str min | str min: 65432 = at least 65432 |
str max | str max: 65432 = not more than 65432 |
solo | vln solo = violin is the solo instrument in a work not obviously for solo violin |
Category Works for Soloist(s) and Orchestra
Opus no. op. 30
Premiere Fp: Helsinki (Finland) 1959
Movements 1.Largo-Allegro, 2.Adagio, 3.Vivace.
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