1st piano concerto (Saint-Saëns)

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Saint-Saëns in 1858

The 1st Piano Concerto in D major , Op. 17 , is a work for piano and orchestra by the French composer Camille Saint-Saëns .

Emergence

Saint-Saëns wrote his 1st Piano Concerto in 1858, at the age of 23. He dedicated the work to the pianist Marie Jaëll (the wife of Alfred Jaell ). The concert is still very much committed to the compositional style of Felix Mendelssohn , who was one of Saint-Saëns' musical models. The grand symphonic gesture suggests Tchaikovsky's piano concertos as well as his own mastery of later concerts.

To the music

occupation

Solo piano , 2 flutes , 2 oboes , 2 clarinets , 2 bassoons , 4 horns , 2 trumpets and strings

1st movement: Andante - Allegro assai

The main movement begins with a horn fanfare, which precedes the movement as a motto. The piano then begins with fast upward movements. The urgent main theme developed from the fanfare is now first presented by the orchestra. In the midst of a musical phrase, the piano takes over with virtuoso chords. A calmer, flowing second thought is introduced, transitioning directly to the first topic, and accompanied by the piano playing around. The implementation preferably, the main theme, which is processed first in erratic duct. The recapitulation begins without horn fanfare, directly with the almost verbatim repetition of the first theme. The movement lacks a large-scale solo cadenza . It ends with powerful chords from orchestra and solo instrument.

2nd movement: Andante sostenuto, quasi Adagio

The second movement begins with a threatening gesture from the low strings, accompanied by pizzicato dabs from the high strings. On this basis, the piano unfolds a sweeping, elegiac melody. Falling throws in the strings lead to a few chords and a small piano solo cadenza. These chords introducing the cadence are repeated several times in the course of the movement. The melody is then taken over by the woodwinds, who continue the theme material in the sense of an endless melody and return it to the piano. The action finally comes to a standstill, and the beginning of the movement is almost repeated, but the cadence of the piano is now greatly changed. A unison run of the strings leads back to the chord theme of the solo instrument. A few more solo runs and two final notes on the piano end the mysterious movement.

3rd movement: Allegro con fuoco

The stormy last movement begins directly with the main theme, which is performed by the orchestra and solo piano in alternating chords. A more lyrical second thought presented by the piano is repeatedly interrupted by joking interjections from the woodwinds and strings quoting the main theme. Both topics will be further developed and worked on in amusing competition. There are also brilliant moments here when the piano accompanies the broadly flowing melody in the orchestra with large arpeggios and decorated with trumpet fanfares. Solemn piano chords, accompanied by a full orchestra, lead to the triumphant conclusion of the concert.

effect

The piano concerto enjoyed some popularity due to its youthful vigor and freshness. Although it is not heard as often today as, for example, the 2nd and 4th piano concerto , it is still often performed.

Saint-Saëns later arranged the piece for two pianos, a version that is rarely heard.

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