Composer

:

Frank Martin

Genre

:

Concerto

Style

:

Concerto

Compose Date

:

1949

First Performance

:

Nov 17, 1950

Average_duration

:

17:04

Frank Martin's Ballade for cello and small orchestra is a composition that was completed in 1949. The piece was premiered in Zurich, Switzerland, on January 27, 1950, with the composer conducting the Zurich Chamber Orchestra and the cellist Pierre Fournier as the soloist. The Ballade is a single-movement work that lasts approximately 15 minutes. The piece is characterized by its lyrical and expressive melodies, which are contrasted with more virtuosic and rhythmic passages. The cello is the primary solo instrument throughout the piece, and it is accompanied by a small orchestra consisting of strings, woodwinds, and brass. The piece begins with a slow and mournful introduction, which sets the somber and introspective tone of the work. The cello enters with a lyrical melody that is accompanied by the strings, and the music gradually builds in intensity and complexity. The middle section of the piece features more virtuosic and rhythmic passages, with the cello playing fast and intricate runs that are punctuated by the orchestra. The final section of the piece returns to the lyrical and expressive melodies of the opening, with the cello playing a soaring and emotional solo that is accompanied by the orchestra. The piece ends with a quiet and introspective coda, which brings the work to a peaceful and contemplative close. Overall, the Ballade for cello and small orchestra is a powerful and emotional work that showcases the expressive capabilities of the cello. The piece is characterized by its lyrical melodies, virtuosic passages, and introspective tone, and it remains a popular work in the cello repertoire to this day.

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