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Double Concerto (Holst)

December 18, 2023

The Double Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra (H. 175; Op. 49)[1] is a work by Gustav Holst in three movements played without a break. It was written in 1929 and first performed in 1930 by its dedicatees, the sisters Adila Fachiri and Jelly d'Arányi. Though now praised by many critics, it has never been frequently performed in the concert hall. It is characterized by fugal counterpoint, folk-like melody, and bitonality without dissonance.[2][3]

Scoring edit

Apart from the soloists, the Double Concerto is scored for two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets in B♭, two bassoons, two horns in F, two trumpets in C, timpani and strings. The 2nd flute, 2nd oboe, 2nd bassoon, 2nd horn, 2nd trumpet and timpani are cued in.[4]

Composition edit

On 21 September 1927 Holst heard the Bach Concerto for Two Violins performed at the Queen's Hall, the sisters Adila Fachiri and Jelly d'Arányi being the soloists. Though he had never been much tempted to produce solo concertos, he was now moved to consider a double violin concerto. Other commitments delayed this project for two years, but in August 1929 he began work, bringing it to a first completed sketch in September. In October he gave the manuscript to Fachiri and d'Arányi for their consideration. Early in 1930 he rehearsed it with them at their studio.[5][6]

Significant performances edit

The Double Concerto was first performed by the dedicatees, Fachiri and d'Arányi, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Oskar Fried, at a Queen's Hall concert on 3 April 1930.[7] Though the soloists were quite equal to the score's challenges, Fried's contribution was not well received; he was described in the press as "quite the least acceptable conductor heard at a London symphony orchestra concert for a long time". During the interval Holst was presented with the Royal Philharmonic Society's rarely-bestowed Gold Medal.[8]

It was, many years later, performed along with The Planets and The Hymn of Jesus at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra's Holst Centenary concert in 1974.[9]

Structure edit

The Double Concerto consists of three movements played without a break. The first movement, a Scherzo, opens with an ostinato rhythm played by cello and double bass, to which a first theme is added by clarinets, bassoons and violas. A fugue is then begun as the first violin soloist, the second soloist, viola and cello enter one by one. Their counterpoint turns into a bitonal passage for the two soloists, then to a return of the first subject. The movement ends with the second soloist returning to a thematic element given earlier by the first, and the first reprising the second soloist's theme from the bitonal passage. The second movement, a mostly bitonal Lament, comprises a melancholy theme in 5/4 reminiscent of late Shostakovich, played by the unaccompanied soloists. The orchestra with muted strings make a gradual entry, as if to soothe, but the melancholy mood continues to the end. This movement includes an extended passage taken from his earlier Terzetto for flute, oboe and viola. The third movement is called Variations on a Ground. The first violin establishes the rather bumpy ground, the second takes it up, then the second violin plays pizzicato while the first accompanies it, and finally the second accompanies the pizzicato first violin. In these fast-changing passages there are displays of cross-rhythm and bitonality in 5/4 and 7/4 time.[10][11][12]

Reception edit

Initially, music critics were divided in their opinion of the Double Concerto. It was called "highly intellectualized",[6] and even "absolutely threadbare",[8] but the Daily Telegraph wrote that it was "completely satisfactory, for even at a first hearing the close relation between form and material is obvious", and noted that the second movement's melody had "moments of rare beauty" in spite of being "just a little heartless".[13] Holsts's friends were encouraging. Ralph Vaughan Williams told him that "The Lament & Ground are splendid – I'm not quite so sure about the scherzo – and even that boils down to not being quite so sure about the 6/8 tune".[8] R. O. Morris wrote that "You made your 2 keys sound like one key, and how otherwise should it be? Any fool can write in Xn keys and make it sound like Xn keys.[6] But the subtlety and detachment of the concerto puzzled audiences, who would have preferred Holst to carry on writing works along the lines of The Planets.[14] It has over the years been an infrequently performed work,[15][16] perhaps because it gives soloists no chance to display their virtuosity, or because a concerto only about 14 minutes long is hard to programme.[17][4] In recent years one critic has written that he found the Double Concerto "not a wholly satisfactory work: there is too much slow music, and the outer movements lose momentum through frequent changes of speed".[18] Others, on the other hand, have described it as "striking...a fine example of Holst's later, sparer style",[19] "a wonderful work, rhythmic and colourfully orchestrated",[20] and as a fine example of "the art that conceals art. It is remarkable that the composer of The Planets was a composer of such subtlety."[21] Paul Shoemaker called it "one of my very favorite of all Holst's works; it is amazing that it is not more frequently played."[22]

Editions edit

  • Holst, Gustav (1930). Double Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra. Op. 49. London: J. Curwen.

Discography edit

  • Emanuel Hurwitz, Kenneth Sillito (violins), English Chamber Orchestra, cond. Imogen Holst (1970). Double Concerto, Capriccio, Two Songs Without Words, Golden Goose Ballet Music (LP). Lyrita. SRCS 44.
  • Andrew Watkinson, Nicholas Ward (violins), City of London Sinfonia, cond. Richard Hickox (1994). Holst: St Paul's Suite, Brook Green Suite, Double Concerto, A Fugal Concerto, Lyric Movement, Two Songs Without Words (CD). Chandos. CHAN 9270.
  • Janice Graham, Sarah Ewins (violins), English Sinfonia, cond. Howard Griffiths (2007). Holst: Double Concerto, St Paul's Suite, Brook Green Suite (CD). Naxos. 8.570339.

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ Short 2014, p. XXI.
  2. ^ Holst 1968, p. 110.
  3. ^ Short 2014, pp. 182, 236.
  4. ^ a b Short 1974, p. 33.
  5. ^ Short 2014, pp. 167, 182–183.
  6. ^ a b c Holst 1969, p. 143.
  7. ^ Short 1974, pp. 33–34.
  8. ^ a b c Short 2014, p. 185.
  9. ^ Joan Chissell (26 September 1974). "Holst Centenary Concert. Festival Hall/Radio 3". The Times. No. 59202. London. col C, p. 11.
  10. ^ Anderson, Keith (2007). Holst: Double Concerto, St Paul's Suite, Brook Green Suite (booklet). Naxos. p. 5. 8.570339.
  11. ^ Holst 1968, pp. 110–115.
  12. ^ Short 2014, p. 217.
  13. ^ "Music and Musicians". The Mercury. Hobart, Tasmania. 17 December 1930. p. 3. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  14. ^ Greene, Richard (1995). Holst: The Planets. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 17. ISBN 9780521456333. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  15. ^ Huismann, Mary Christison (2011). Gustav Holst: A Research and Information Guide. New York: Routledge. p. 121. ISBN 9780415995252. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  16. ^ "Holst: Double Concerto / St Paul's Suite / Brook Green Suite". Naxos. 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  17. ^ Short 2014, p. 182.
  18. ^ Barber, Stephen. "Chandos CHAN10948X". MusicWeb International. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  19. ^ March, Ivan; Greenfield, Edward; Layton, Robert (2001). The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs: 2002 Edition. London: Penguin. p. 645. ISBN 014051497X. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  20. ^ Wright, Leslie. "Chandos CHAN10948X". MusicWeb International. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  21. ^ Tuttle, Raymond (2007). "Naxos 8.570339". Classical Net. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  22. ^ Shoemaker, Paul. "Lyrita SRCD 223". MusicWeb International. Retrieved 30 October 2023.

References edit

  • Holst, Imogen (1968). The Music of Gustav Holst (2nd ed.). London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0193154161. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  • Holst, Imogen (1969). Gustav Holst: A Biography (2nd ed.). London: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0192821938. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  • Short, Michael (1974). Gustav Holst (1874–1934): A Centenary Documentation. London: White Lion. ISBN 0728500000. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  • Short, Michael (2014). Gustav Holst: The Man and His Music. Hastings: Circaidy Gregory Press. ISBN 9781906451820. Retrieved 29 October 2023.

External links edit

  • Performance by Emanuel Hurwitz, Kenneth Sillito and the English Chamber Orchestra, cond. Imogen Holst at the Internet Archive

December 18, 2023
double, concerto, holst, double, concerto, violins, orchestra, work, gustav, holst, three, movements, played, without, break, written, 1929, first, performed, 1930, dedicatees, sisters, adila, fachiri, jelly, arányi, though, praised, many, critics, never, been. The Double Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra H 175 Op 49 1 is a work by Gustav Holst in three movements played without a break It was written in 1929 and first performed in 1930 by its dedicatees the sisters Adila Fachiri and Jelly d Aranyi Though now praised by many critics it has never been frequently performed in the concert hall It is characterized by fugal counterpoint folk like melody and bitonality without dissonance 2 3 Contents 1 Scoring 2 Composition 3 Significant performances 4 Structure 5 Reception 6 Editions 7 Discography 8 Footnotes 9 References 10 External linksScoring editApart from the soloists the Double Concerto is scored for two flutes two oboes two clarinets in B two bassoons two horns in F two trumpets in C timpani and strings The 2nd flute 2nd oboe 2nd bassoon 2nd horn 2nd trumpet and timpani are cued in 4 Composition editOn 21 September 1927 Holst heard the Bach Concerto for Two Violins performed at the Queen s Hall the sisters Adila Fachiri and Jelly d Aranyi being the soloists Though he had never been much tempted to produce solo concertos he was now moved to consider a double violin concerto Other commitments delayed this project for two years but in August 1929 he began work bringing it to a first completed sketch in September In October he gave the manuscript to Fachiri and d Aranyi for their consideration Early in 1930 he rehearsed it with them at their studio 5 6 Significant performances editThe Double Concerto was first performed by the dedicatees Fachiri and d Aranyi with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra under Oskar Fried at a Queen s Hall concert on 3 April 1930 7 Though the soloists were quite equal to the score s challenges Fried s contribution was not well received he was described in the press as quite the least acceptable conductor heard at a London symphony orchestra concert for a long time During the interval Holst was presented with the Royal Philharmonic Society s rarely bestowed Gold Medal 8 It was many years later performed along with The Planets and The Hymn of Jesus at the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra s Holst Centenary concert in 1974 9 Structure editThe Double Concerto consists of three movements played without a break The first movement a Scherzo opens with an ostinato rhythm played by cello and double bass to which a first theme is added by clarinets bassoons and violas A fugue is then begun as the first violin soloist the second soloist viola and cello enter one by one Their counterpoint turns into a bitonal passage for the two soloists then to a return of the first subject The movement ends with the second soloist returning to a thematic element given earlier by the first and the first reprising the second soloist s theme from the bitonal passage The second movement a mostly bitonal Lament comprises a melancholy theme in 5 4 reminiscent of late Shostakovich played by the unaccompanied soloists The orchestra with muted strings make a gradual entry as if to soothe but the melancholy mood continues to the end This movement includes an extended passage taken from his earlier Terzetto for flute oboe and viola The third movement is called Variations on a Ground The first violin establishes the rather bumpy ground the second takes it up then the second violin plays pizzicato while the first accompanies it and finally the second accompanies the pizzicato first violin In these fast changing passages there are displays of cross rhythm and bitonality in 5 4 and 7 4 time 10 11 12 Reception editInitially music critics were divided in their opinion of the Double Concerto It was called highly intellectualized 6 and even absolutely threadbare 8 but the Daily Telegraph wrote that it was completely satisfactory for even at a first hearing the close relation between form and material is obvious and noted that the second movement s melody had moments of rare beauty in spite of being just a little heartless 13 Holsts s friends were encouraging Ralph Vaughan Williams told him that The Lament amp Ground are splendid I m not quite so sure about the scherzo and even that boils down to not being quite so sure about the 6 8 tune 8 R O Morris wrote that You made your 2 keys sound like one key and how otherwise should it be Any fool can write in Xn keys and make it sound like Xn keys 6 But the subtlety and detachment of the concerto puzzled audiences who would have preferred Holst to carry on writing works along the lines of The Planets 14 It has over the years been an infrequently performed work 15 16 perhaps because it gives soloists no chance to display their virtuosity or because a concerto only about 14 minutes long is hard to programme 17 4 In recent years one critic has written that he found the Double Concerto not a wholly satisfactory work there is too much slow music and the outer movements lose momentum through frequent changes of speed 18 Others on the other hand have described it as striking a fine example of Holst s later sparer style 19 a wonderful work rhythmic and colourfully orchestrated 20 and as a fine example of the art that conceals art It is remarkable that the composer of The Planets was a composer of such subtlety 21 Paul Shoemaker called it one of my very favorite of all Holst s works it is amazing that it is not more frequently played 22 Editions editHolst Gustav 1930 Double Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra Op 49 London J Curwen Holst Gustav 1973 Holst Imogen ed Double Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra Op 49 Revised ed London Curwen ISBN 0852490305 Holst Gustav 1977 Holst Imogen Matthews Colin eds Collected Facsimile Edition of Autograph Manuscripts of the Published Works Volume 2 Works for Small Orchestra London Faber Music ISBN 9780571100088 Discography editEmanuel Hurwitz Kenneth Sillito violins English Chamber Orchestra cond Imogen Holst 1970 Double Concerto Capriccio Two Songs Without Words Golden Goose Ballet Music LP Lyrita SRCS 44 Andrew Watkinson Nicholas Ward violins City of London Sinfonia cond Richard Hickox 1994 Holst St Paul s Suite Brook Green Suite Double Concerto A Fugal Concerto Lyric Movement Two Songs Without Words CD Chandos CHAN 9270 Janice Graham Sarah Ewins violins English Sinfonia cond Howard Griffiths 2007 Holst Double Concerto St Paul s Suite Brook Green Suite CD Naxos 8 570339 Footnotes edit Short 2014 p XXI Holst 1968 p 110 Short 2014 pp 182 236 a b Short 1974 p 33 Short 2014 pp 167 182 183 a b c Holst 1969 p 143 Short 1974 pp 33 34 a b c Short 2014 p 185 Joan Chissell 26 September 1974 Holst Centenary Concert Festival Hall Radio 3 The Times No 59202 London col C p 11 Anderson Keith 2007 Holst Double Concerto St Paul s Suite Brook Green Suite booklet Naxos p 5 8 570339 Holst 1968 pp 110 115 Short 2014 p 217 Music and Musicians The Mercury Hobart Tasmania 17 December 1930 p 3 Retrieved 30 October 2023 Greene Richard 1995 Holst The Planets Cambridge Cambridge University Press p 17 ISBN 9780521456333 Retrieved 30 October 2023 Huismann Mary Christison 2011 Gustav Holst A Research and Information Guide New York Routledge p 121 ISBN 9780415995252 Retrieved 30 October 2023 Holst Double Concerto St Paul s Suite Brook Green Suite Naxos 2007 Retrieved 30 October 2023 Short 2014 p 182 Barber Stephen Chandos CHAN10948X MusicWeb International Retrieved 30 October 2023 March Ivan Greenfield Edward Layton Robert 2001 The Penguin Guide to Compact Discs 2002 Edition London Penguin p 645 ISBN 014051497X Retrieved 30 October 2023 Wright Leslie Chandos CHAN10948X MusicWeb International Retrieved 30 October 2023 Tuttle Raymond 2007 Naxos 8 570339 Classical Net Retrieved 30 October 2023 Shoemaker Paul Lyrita SRCD 223 MusicWeb International Retrieved 30 October 2023 References editHolst Imogen 1968 The Music of Gustav Holst 2nd ed London Oxford University Press ISBN 0193154161 Retrieved 29 October 2023 Holst Imogen 1969 Gustav Holst A Biography 2nd ed London Oxford University Press ISBN 0192821938 Retrieved 30 October 2023 Short Michael 1974 Gustav Holst 1874 1934 A Centenary Documentation London White Lion ISBN 0728500000 Retrieved 30 October 2023 Short Michael 2014 Gustav Holst The Man and His Music Hastings Circaidy Gregory Press ISBN 9781906451820 Retrieved 29 October 2023 External links editPerformance by Emanuel Hurwitz Kenneth Sillito and the English Chamber Orchestra cond Imogen Holst at the Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Double Concerto Holst amp oldid 1188161123, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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