Composer

:

Erwin Schulhoff

Genre

:

Concerto

Style

:

Quartet

Compose Date

:

1930

Average_duration

:

20:57

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Erwin Schulhoff's Concerto for string quartet & winds, WV 97, was composed in 1925 and premiered in Prague the same year. The concerto consists of three movements: Allegro moderato, Andante, and Allegro giocoso. The first movement, Allegro moderato, begins with a lively and rhythmic theme played by the winds, which is then taken up by the string quartet. The movement features a call-and-response structure between the two groups, with the winds often providing a playful and jazzy accompaniment to the more lyrical string melodies. The movement ends with a lively coda that brings the themes of the movement to a satisfying conclusion. The second movement, Andante, is a slow and melancholic piece that features a haunting melody played by the string quartet. The winds provide a delicate and ethereal accompaniment, with the clarinet and bassoon in particular adding a mournful quality to the music. The movement builds to a powerful climax before fading away into a quiet and introspective coda. The final movement, Allegro giocoso, is a lively and energetic piece that features a playful and syncopated theme played by the winds. The string quartet responds with a more lyrical and melodic theme, and the two groups engage in a lively and spirited dialogue throughout the movement. The movement ends with a frenzied coda that brings the concerto to a thrilling conclusion. Overall, Schulhoff's Concerto for string quartet & winds is a dynamic and innovative work that showcases the composer's unique blend of classical and jazz influences. The concerto's use of call-and-response structures, syncopated rhythms, and playful melodies make it a standout work in the repertoire of 20th-century chamber music.

More....