Ashley Dones Essays - Music, , Term Papers

Ashley Dones In the third movement of a concerto for violin and orchestra, written by Johannes Brahms. Brahms' music has a range of moods when listening to his pieces. He does a great job portraying an autumnal feeling and lyrical warmth(Kamien,2015). This movement in particular you are able to hear the dynamics between the instruments and the sudden changes he creates with tone color. The orchestral exposition of the first movement presents the first theme in the low strings and bassoons, succeeded by a series of chromatically inflected linking passages. Following the orchestral exposition, the violin enters not in D major, but in D minor in an extended quasi-cadenza passage over a sustained tone in the timpani and cellos, as melodic fragments are heard echoing throughout the orchestra. The violin then goes on to introduce a new, lyrical theme that it shares with the orchestra. The Adagio, in F major, presents a pastoral theme in a setting of woodwinds led by the oboe. The violin enters later, ornamenting the theme over a string accompaniment. The calm ambience gives way to a stormy middle section which eventually winds its way back to the calm of the pastoral setting. The finale, with its abundance of melodic double-stop writing for the violin, is reminiscent of a kind of gypsy-inspired music. But the great lyricism and rhythmic drive of the themes far transcends any sentiment inferred by such a statement, and the many moods depicted throughout the movement. It is not known when Brahms began work on his Violin Concerto, but we do know that he finished his first draft during the summer of 1878 at Portschach in southern Austria. He then sent the solo violin part to his long time friend, the composer, conductor, virtuoso violinist, and dedicatee of the concerto, Joseph Joachim. Brahms had for years consulted with him on various compositions, seeking his criticisms and learned opinions. In the note accompanying the violin part, Brahms sought that Joachim should "correct it, not sparing the quality of the composition and that if you thought it not worth scoring, that you should say so. I shall be satisfied if you will mark those parts which are difficult, awkward, or imp ossible to play" (ClassicFM,2017). My experience while listening to this piece created a sense of happiness. It seemed to lighten my mood for the day. I also like watching the performers while they play. Their facial expressions while playing also give a type of tone and emotion. It's like they are playing their instrument for the last time. References: Kamien , R. (2015).Music: An Appreciation(8th brief ed.). New York, NY: McGraw Hill Higher Education. ( n.d. ). Classic FM - The World's Greatest Music. Classic FM - The World's Greatest Music. Retrieved from http://www.classicfm.com/