Bohuslav Martinů: Concerto for String Quartet Context One of the leading Czech composers during the 20th Century, Bohuslav Martinů wrote over 400 works, including 6 symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a huge body of chamber and orchestral works. After finding his feet in the style of Neoclassicism, Martinů Read more…
Bohuslav Martinů: Rhapsody-Concerto Context One of the leading Czech composers during the 20th Century, Bohuslav Martinů wrote over 400 works, including 6 symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a huge body of chamber and orchestral works. After finding his feet in the style of Neoclassicism, Martinů used Igor Stravinsky Read more…
Bohuslav Martinů: Oboe Concerto Context One of the leading Czech composers during the 20th Century, Bohuslav Martinů wrote over 400 works, including 6 symphonies, 15 operas, 14 ballet scores and a huge body of chamber and orchestral works. After finding his feet in the style of Neoclassicism, Martinů used Igor Read more…
Ruth Gipps: Horn Concerto Context By the time of her death in 1999, Ruth Gipps had an incredible oeuvre of music to represent her career throughout the 20th century. A pupil of Gordon Jacob, Arthur Alexander and Ralph Vaughan Williams whilst at the Royal College of Music, Gipps multitasked as Read more…
Frédéric Chopin: Piano Concerto No.1 Context Composed in 1830 when Frédéric Chopin was just twenty years old, his First Piano Concerto has remained a popular staple in concerto repertoire. At its world premiere, Chopin himself played the soloist’s part as part of his ‘farewell’ concert before he left Poland. The Read more…
Arthur Honegger: Concerto da camera Context Composed in 1948 after a commission from American patron Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge, Concerto da camera is a concerto with the unusual combination of soloists. Using an English Horn (Cor Anglais) and flute as the soloists, and a string orchestra as the accompaniment, Concerto da Read more…
Frédéric Chopin: Rondo à la Krakowiak Context Composed in 1828 whilst Chopin was in Warsaw studying under Józef Elsner, Rondo à la Krakowiak was the composer’s second attempt at composing for an orchestra and piano. Dedicated to Princess Anna Zofia Sapieha, this work for solo piano and orchestra has remained Read more…
Antonio Vivaldi: Flute Concerto No.1 La Tempesta di Mare (RV 433) Context Subtitled ‘The Storm at Sea’, Antonio Vivaldi’s First Flute Concerto was the start of his collection of six concertos for the instrument. Published c.1720s, the concerto was one of many concertos that Vivaldi wrote that brought the concerto Read more…
Alexander Scriabin: Piano Concerto Context Composed when he was just 24 years old, Alexander Scriabin’s Piano Concerto was the first of his works to use an orchestra, as well as being the only concerto that he wrote. Although a majority of the concerto was composed in 1896, it wasn’t until Read more…
Luigi Boccherini: Cello Concerto No.9 Context Composed during the late 1760s-early 1770s, Luigi Boccherini’s Ninth Cello Concerto is perhaps his most well-known out of the twelve he composed. A dedicated and talented cellist himself, Boccherini enjoyed writing for the instrument, and was able to perform his work before taking it Read more…