Composer

:

Louis Moreau Gottschalk

Genre

:

Concerto

Style

:

Concerto

Compose Date

:

1869

Publication Date

:

1969

First Performance

:

Oct 31, 1869

Average_duration

:

11:08

Louis Moreau Gottschalk's 'Variations de concert sur l'hymne portugais, for piano & orchestra, RO 289' was composed in 1869. The piece was premiered on January 22, 1870, in Paris, with the composer himself as the soloist and Édouard Colonne conducting the orchestra. The piece consists of a theme and eight variations, with a coda at the end. The theme is based on the Portuguese national anthem, "A Portuguesa," which was written in 1890. The variations explore different aspects of the theme, including its rhythm, melody, and harmony. The first variation is a virtuosic display of the theme, with the piano and orchestra trading off in a lively and energetic manner. The second variation is more subdued, with the piano playing a delicate and lyrical melody over a soft orchestral accompaniment. The third variation is a lively dance, with the piano and orchestra playing off each other in a playful and rhythmic manner. The fourth variation is a slow and mournful adagio, with the piano playing a melancholy melody over a somber orchestral accompaniment. The fifth variation is a lively and playful scherzo, with the piano and orchestra trading off in a fast and energetic manner. The sixth variation is a slow and lyrical andante, with the piano playing a delicate and expressive melody over a soft orchestral accompaniment. The seventh variation is a lively and rhythmic allegro, with the piano and orchestra playing off each other in a fast and energetic manner. The eighth variation is a virtuosic display of the theme, with the piano and orchestra trading off in a lively and energetic manner. The coda brings the piece to a triumphant close, with the piano and orchestra playing the theme in a grand and majestic manner. Overall, 'Variations de concert sur l'hymne portugais, for piano & orchestra, RO 289' is a virtuosic and expressive piece that showcases Gottschalk's skill as a composer and pianist. The piece is characterized by its lively rhythms, expressive melodies, and virtuosic piano writing, as well as its use of the Portuguese national anthem as a thematic basis.

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