Composer

:

Walter Piston

Genre

:

Concerto

Style

:

Concerto

Compose Date

:

1958

Average_duration

:

18:22

Movement_count

:

3

Movement ....

Walter Piston's "Concerto for 2 pianos & orchestra" is a three-movement work that was composed in 1943. The piece was premiered on January 6, 1944, by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with the composer himself conducting and the pianists, Victor Babin and Vitya Vronsky, as soloists. The first movement, marked Allegro, opens with a lively and rhythmic theme played by the orchestra. The two pianos then enter with a virtuosic and syncopated passage that sets the tone for the rest of the movement. The soloists engage in a playful dialogue, exchanging themes and motifs, while the orchestra provides a colorful and dynamic accompaniment. The movement ends with a brilliant coda that showcases the technical prowess of the pianists. The second movement, marked Andante, is a lyrical and introspective piece that features a beautiful melody played by the soloists. The orchestra provides a delicate and atmospheric background, with strings and woodwinds creating a dreamy and ethereal atmosphere. The pianos engage in a dialogue that is both tender and melancholic, with occasional bursts of virtuosity that add to the emotional intensity of the movement. The third movement, marked Allegro vivace, is a lively and energetic finale that brings the concerto to a thrilling conclusion. The orchestra opens with a fanfare-like theme that is soon taken up by the pianos, leading to a fast and furious exchange of virtuosic passages. The movement features a variety of rhythmic and melodic motifs, with the soloists engaging in a playful and dynamic dialogue. The concerto ends with a triumphant coda that brings together all the themes and motifs heard throughout the piece. Overall, Piston's "Concerto for 2 pianos & orchestra" is a masterful work that showcases the composer's skill in writing for both soloists and orchestra. The piece is characterized by its lively rhythms, colorful orchestration, and virtuosic piano writing, as well as its lyrical and introspective moments. It remains a popular and frequently performed work in the repertoire of two-piano concertos.

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