Paul Hindemith: Trauermusik Context Trauermusik was composed on the 21st January 1936 at very short notice in memory of King George V, who had passed away the previous night. The English translation of the title is ‘Funeral Music’, although it is always known by its German name. On the 19th Read more…
Nico Muhly: Viola Concerto Context Nico Muhly (1981-) composed his vivacious Viola Concerto in 2014 due to a joint commission from the Orquesta Nacionales de España, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Festival de Saint Denis and the National Arts Centre Orchestra. It was premiered in February 2015 by the Orquesta Nacionales Read more…
Sergei Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 2 Context Around the time of the Russian Revolution in 1917, Sergei Prokofiev left the Soviet Union and lived abroad for the next 18 years or so. He returned in 1927 an outsider, and was regarded as a foreigner by the regime whilst on tour Read more…
Antonio Vivaldi: Concerto for Two Trumpets in C Major Context Antonio Vivaldi’s Double Trumpet Concerto in C Major has stood the test of time and is still one of his most popular compositions. It has become somewhat of an enigma as we’re unsure when it was written, who it was Read more…
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22 Context Composed in Vienna in December 1785, Mozart’s 22nd piano concerto is part of his more sophisticated collection of works. Mozart had received great success from a series of piano concertos in Vienna since his arrival there in 1781. In early 1785, Mozart’s Read more…
Dana Suesse: Concerto in 3 Rhythms Context Dana Suesse was born in 1909 in Kansas City. There is not much information on Suesse’s earlier life, but we know that whilst she was still young she travelled around the Midwest Vaudeville circuit, performing both on the piano and as a dancer. Read more…
Sergei Rachmaninov: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (Variation 18) Context Sergei Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini is a concertante work (a large-scale work which uses both the symphonic and concerto forms throughout). It was composed in 1934, and is scored for solo piano and a full Romantic Read more…
Camille Saint-Saëns: Cello Concerto No. 1 Context Composed for cellist Auguste Tolbecque in 1872, Camille Saint-Saëns’ First Cello Concerto is still regarded as one of the most successful of its kind. During a time where instruments such as the piano and violin were often centre stage at concerts, Tolbecque was Read more…
Alexander Arutunian: Trumpet Concerto Context Born in Yerevan, Alexander Arutunian (1920-2012) was soon recognised as an accomplished pianist and composer, and subsequently, he studied at the Conservatory of Yerevan. After deciding that a career as a composer was right for him, Arutunian joined the U.S.S.R’s Union of composers in 1939. This was, Read more…
John Rutter: The Beatles Concerto Although largely known for his choral and vocal works, John Rutter has also composed an interesting collection of orchestral works. His three movement concerto for two pianos: The Beatles Concerto, is based on various Beatles songs. The style of this work is reminiscent of the romantic and early Read more…