Composer

:

John Corigliano

Genre

:

Concerto

Style

:

Concerto

Compose Date

:

1999

First Performance

:

Jun 3, 1999

Average_duration

:

24:58

Movement_count

:

11

Movement ....

The Red Violin Suite is a composition by American composer John Corigliano, based on his score for the 1998 film The Red Violin. The suite was composed in 2002 and premiered on March 26, 2003, by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Marin Alsop. The suite consists of five movements, each representing a different era and location in the life of the titular red violin. The first movement, "Chaconne: Red Violin in Montreal," is a virtuosic solo violin piece that represents the violin's creation in 1681 by Italian master craftsman Nicolo Bussotti. The movement is characterized by its use of a chaconne, a repeating harmonic progression that serves as the foundation for the entire movement. The second movement, "Pianissimo Scherzo: Red Violin in Vienna," is a playful and whimsical piece that represents the violin's time in 18th-century Vienna. The movement features a solo violin and a small chamber orchestra, and is characterized by its use of pizzicato strings and delicate woodwind melodies. The third movement, "Andante Flautando: Red Violin in Oxford," is a contemplative and introspective piece that represents the violin's time in 19th-century Oxford, England. The movement features a solo flute and a small string orchestra, and is characterized by its use of long, flowing melodies and lush harmonies. The fourth movement, "Accelerando: Red Violin in Shanghai," is a frenetic and energetic piece that represents the violin's time in 20th-century Shanghai, China. The movement features a full orchestra and is characterized by its use of driving rhythms and dissonant harmonies. The final movement, "Cadenza and Finale: Red Violin in Montreal," is a virtuosic solo violin piece that represents the violin's return to Montreal in the present day. The movement is characterized by its use of complex rhythms and harmonies, and serves as a showcase for the soloist's technical abilities. Overall, The Red Violin Suite is a masterful composition that showcases Corigliano's skill as a composer and his ability to evoke a wide range of emotions and moods through his music. The suite is a testament to the enduring power of the violin as an instrument and to the rich history and culture that surrounds it.

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