The Violin concerto of Brahms (1833-1897) is one of the masterpieces of the Violin repertoire, a pillar of the Romantic era of composition. Despite this stature, it is often overlooked in favour other more "tuneful" concerti like the Tchaikovsky or Sibelius Violin concertos. Part of the reason for this, is that it is a concerto that is more based on the interplay between the violin and orchestra, rather than featuring the violin as an instrument with great tunes and melody. However, for me it is a concerto that holds a special place in my heart as it was the first concerto that I performed with an orchestra when I was younger, and for me it is miles ahead of the other Romantic concerti in every respect! It was a concerto that I had always dreamed of playing and so it was quite an highlight when I was able to perform it!

Contemporary critics of Brahms made many complaints against the piece:

"not so much for violin as against the violin"

_{Conductor Hans von Bülow or Joseph Hellmesberger}

"unplayable"

_{Violin virtuoso, Henryk Wieniawski}

"[I don't want to] stand on the rostrum, violin in hand and listen to the oboe playing the only tune in the adagio."

_{Violin virtuoso Pablo de Sarasate}

Despite the contemporary criticisms of musicians and music critics, the Concerto was received with great public acclaim and was compared quite favourably to the great Beethoven Violin concerto (also in D major) at it's premiere in Leipzig in 1879 (performed by the great Joachim)

This movement is the closing movement of the concerto, and as such it is an explosion of joy and fireworks! The violin introduces the two themes (the raucous opening theme and the more lyrical and playful second theme). The movement reminds me a nimble mouse (the violin) racing between the feet and teasing the lumbering orchestral elephant!

The Performers

Unfortunately, I'm not really so familiar with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen or the conductor, Paavo Järvi. However, I am completely smitten with the playing of the Dutch violinist, Janine Jansen. She plays with such awesome power and fluidity, and it is no surprise that she ranks in the top tier of soloists in the violin world!

Previous Curating Music History posts

Finale from 4th Symphony (Tchaikovsky)

Last movement from "Jupiter" Symphony #41 (Mozart)

Overture to Midsummer Night's Dream (Mendelssohn)

Histoire du Tango: Cafe 1930 (Piazzolla)

Last movement from Violin sonata 2 (Prokofiev)

Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra (Britten)

'Sonata in d minor for violin and continuo" (Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre)

'Sonata duodecima' for Violin and Continuo(Isabella Leonarda)

Chaconne from Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme (Lully)

Alla Danza Tedesca from Beethoven String Quartet Op.130

6 Elizabethan Songs: Argento

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Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://www.gamerjokerbreadder.com/2018/08/11/curating-music-history-last-movement-from-brahms-violin-concerto/

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