Music Education: Concerto

Concerto

A concerto is music of contrasting colours created through the orchestra. There are two types of contrast which represent the two types of concertos. One is the contrast of a small group of instruments and the full orchestra. This is the Concerto Grosso. It used to be very popular at the time of Bach and Handel, two composers who lived in the 17^th century. The second type of concerto is the solo concerto or the contrast of one single instrument, piano or violin, with the whole orchestra. The solo concerto became popular at the time of Beethoven, Mozart and the romantic composers like Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Liszt, Schumann and Brahms.

The concerto grosso had no fixed number of movements or sections but the solo concerto is usually in three movements. The first movement is very much in structure like the first movement of symphony dealing with the two melodies and their development. Basically it is a dialogue between the soloist and the orchestra. The second movement is lyrical and personal, intimate and very romantic. The third is fast paced and brings the concerto to a triumphant conclusion. If you can listen to the concertos of Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and Brahms you will get a good idea of the sound world of the concerto. All romantic solo concertos have passages where only the soloist plays. This is called cadenza.

If you are aware of Indian classical music then you will observe concerto is more of like Jugalbandi where two different instruments (Sitar and Tabla, Sarod and Tabla, Flute and Harmonium etc.) develop two melodies together like a session of question and answer.

I am attaching examples of concerto grosso and solo concerto with brief description of some. Violin and Piano are quite common in concertos as the solo instrument. However I am giving some examples of unusual instruments like Harp, Oboe, Lute, Mandolin, Organ and Recorder. There are some examples where Bach used four pianos for a concerto and Beethoven used Piano, Violin and Cello for his Triple Concerto. Baroque composers like Bach, Teleman, Haydn, Handel, and Vivaldi had used Organ, Harp, Trumpet, Lute, Mandolin etc which are not commonly in use today.

 

 

List of Concertos

1.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnDLlajMxyo&t=259s

Four Seasons by Vivaldi

This is the most popular concerto of all time. There are four distinct concertos named Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Violin is the solo instrument contrasting with the orchestra. The opening movement of the Spring is the most lively music you will ever hear. There is beautiful pizzicato (plucking of the string of violin) sound in the Winter mimicking gentle sound of snowfall.

1.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cokCgWPRZPg

Violin Concerto, Beethoven

In his entire lifetime Beethoven wrote only one violin concerto but this is the most complete violin concerto ever written. This is an example of concerto solo. Among the three movement my favorite is the last one which is Rondo. Rondo means cyclical arrangement of a leading theme. You will hum this Rondo theme once you hear it. Also note the cadenza or the only violin playing during Rondo.

2.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbQORqkStpk

Brandenburg Concerto, Bach

This is an example of concerto grosso where group of instruments like violin,oboe,trumpet,bassoon etc play in contrast to the orchestra. The rich polyphonic sound makes a pleasant hearing.

3.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4pJxad_aI8&t=2000s

Piano Concerto no.5, Beethoven

The third movement of this magnificent piano concerto has a melodious tune you will hum. This is popularly known as Emperor concerto.

4.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zv5LeIkwPmg

Piano Concerto 1, Tchaikovsky

The rapid first movement is a treat to your ears. You will feel as if the sound is flowing like a river.

5.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay1hyj8Lo00

Concerto for Harp and Orchestra, Handel

The sound of this Harp concerto is angelic.

6.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2uYb6bMKyI

Piano Concerto no 21, Mozart

This is also known as Elvira Madigan because of a Swedish film who used this lyrical music. The 2^nd movement is the most peaceful work ever written in musical world.

7.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htDf0bpFIys

Concerto Grosso op 6, Handel

Hear the groups of instruments in contrast with the orchestra.

8.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyY5pB2a0cU

Lute Concerto, Vivaldi

This is a guitar like instrument not much in use today but what a jolly piece of music you will hear from the first note.

9.     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YT_63UntRJE

Clarinet Concerto, Mozart

Such a beautiful example of a wind instrument contrasting with a full orchestra.

10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hggISFswKcw

Recorder Concerto,RV443, Vivaldi

Listen to another beautiful flute like wind instrument used by Vivaldi, a baroque master.

11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHjgSiTBddM

Trumpet Concerto, Haydn

Another beautiful wind instrument from baroque era. You will not stop humming the first movement.

12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDrVtXPpuRI&t=126s

Oboe Concerto, Mozart

13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ49G2-Chhs

Concerto for 4 Pianos, BWV 1065, Bach

This concerto is an example of concerto grosso with 4 pianos playing together.

14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSs6HKwhbAA

Concerto for 4 violins, Vivaldi

This is another fine example of concerto grosso.

15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEGNuBO4EsA

Cello Concerto no 6 in D Major, Boccherini

16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmpjXrS6ekk&t=576s

Triple Concerto, Beethoven

This is a masterpiece played by Richter (Piano), David Oistrach(Violin) and Rostropovich(Cello) conducted by Herbert von Karajan of Berlin Philharmonic.

17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8mJnX8up6g

Concerto for two mandolins, Vivaldi

18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK2m0To3BCk

Piano Concerto no.17, Mozart

Mozart was pleasantly surprised to hear the 3^rd movement from a starling bird in a pet shop who had picked this up and whistled. The 3^rd movement is simply worth remembering.

19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_yxtaeFuEQ

Cello Concerto, Dvorak

20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mo6ekt2kTVg

Organ Concerto B-flat major op. 4 No. 6, Handel

21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC6cPairOTA

Violin Concerto, Mendelssohn