CDV. HINDEMITH, Paul: Violin Concerto

CDV. HINDEMITH, Paul (1895-1963)

Violin Concerto (1939)
1. Mäßig bewegte Halbe
2. Langsam
3. Lebhaft
Carla Marrero, violin
Orchestra of the University of Music Franz Liszt, Weimar
Nicolás Pasquet, cond.
(32:04)

I have the excellent recording of Isaac Stern playing this and the Penderecki concerti. This young lady is up to the task.

This magnificent concerto is actually the second Hindemith wrote; the first is entitled Kammermusik #4 for Violin and large chamber orchestra from 1925 [see Post LXX].

Both are underrepresented in concert and recording.

**

1. Mäßig bewegte Halbe

After the opening timpani rhythm, the theme in the solo is a leitmotif which will pop up frequently throughout the movement:

Hindemith uses full orchestral forces in between the soloist entries:

Things calm down:

and pick up speed again; Hindemith continues to interrupt the soloists with forceful orchestral blasts, concluding with a powerful cadence in C-Sharp Major:

2. Langsam

A stately wind choir starts things off; the violin soon enters with some stratospheric writing high on the E string:

followed by a seriously intense section the tutti orchestra:

3. Lebhaft

Lively, indeed.

I love how the violin slips in and out of these punctuated chords in the brass:

A splendid cadenza:

Enchanting ending with two horns and rolled cymbal accompaniment, ending on the enharmonic D-Flat Minor (C-Sharp) ...