Violin Concerto in E Minor, op. 64

Question 1

Genre, Composition date, Structure, and Performing forces

Answer 1

Violin concerto, 1844, 3 movements, solo violin and orchestra

Question 2

First Movement: key, form, tempo, meter

Answer 2

E minor, sonata form, allegro molto appassionato, cut time

Question 3

Exposition follows the increasingly common practice of what

Answer 3

Dispensing the “double-exposition” format that had been customary in the 18th century concerto

Question 4

First theme within Exposition:
- Presented as a small ___ form
- After brief orchestral introduction, ___ enters with ___ ___
- Virtuosic writing for solo violin includes ___ ___, ___, and ___
- ___ ___ restated by ___

Answer 4

• Ternary (ABA)
• Solo violin; broad melody outlining tonic triad
• rapid passagework, triplets, and octaves
• First theme; orchestra

Question 5

Bridge Theme within Exposition:
- Soloist leads with ___ ___ followed by ___ ___ involving ___ ___, ___ figures, and ___ ___ in rising ___ ___
- Modulates to ___

Answer 5

• Angular melody; electrifying passagework; string crossings, arpeggiated figures, and double stops in rising chromatic thirds
• G major (relative major)

Question 6

Second Theme within Exposition:
- ___ and ___ introduce serene melody in ___ while solo violin plays an accompanying ___ ___ on the ___
- Marked ___ (dynamic) and ___
- Solo violin reiterates ___ ___

Answer 6

• Flutes and clarinets; G major; pedal point on the tonic
• pp and tranquillo
• First theme

Question 7

Codetta within Exposition:
- Soloist recalls opening of first theme in ___ followed by virtuosic ___ ___ merging into the ___

Answer 7

• G Major; cadential figures; development

Question 8

Transition:
- Soloist plays ___ of first theme while alternating orchestral ___ and ___, resulting in ___ ___ and seamless transition into development

Answer 8

• Fragments; tremolando and trills, resulting in dramatic tension

Question 9

Development:
- Opens with soloist restating ___ material in ___; marked ___
- ___ present fragments of ___ ___ accompanied by soloist playing florid ___ ___
- ___ of tonic major/minor modes throughout
- ___ subsides and a more ___ character emerges, with ___ dynamic level
- There is ___ ___ of tension and increased ___ writing, where orchestra suddenly drops out and soloist performs the ___, which is written ___
- Significance of the above point

Answer 9

• Bridge in A minor; agitato
• Woodwinds; first theme; eighth-note passages
• Juxtaposition
• Tension; serene; softer
• Build up; virtuosic; cadenza; in full by Mendelssohn
• This is unusual, as cadenzas generally occur at the end of the recapitulation, preceding the coda.

Question 10

Cadenza:
- Features ___ of the ___ ___ of the first theme
- Technical challenges include ___ ___ ___, ___ ___, and ___ ___
- Unconventional placement of the cadenza serves what

Answer 10

• Fragments of the opening motive
• Rapid string crossings, high-pitched harmonics, and spirited spiccato
• Serves to expand and dramatically highlight the dominant preparation, providing a seamless link into recapitulation

Question 11

Recapitulation:
- ___ restates the first theme in ___ as the solo violin continues the ___ figures initiated in the cadenza
- The ___ theme returns in ___

Answer 11

• Orchestra; E minor; arpeggio
• Second; E major

Question 12

Coda:
- Propelled to the final cadence with ___ ___ ___
- Features ___ theme and ___ of first theme
- After the final tonic chords, the ___ sustains a _ that creates direct link to the second movement ___ ___

Answer 12

• Increases in tempo
• Transition; opening
• Bassoon; B; without pause