How to Listen to Classical Music: The Concerto

Summary

This video script explores the concerto form, a multi-movement composition featuring a solo instrument and orchestra. It delves into the balance between the soloist and the orchestra, highlighting the importance of contrast and dialogue. The script provides a historical overview, from early examples by Handel and Vivaldi to the classical era's development of sonata form in concertos. It explains the structure of concertos, including the ritornello, solo sections, and the role of cadenzas, while noting that the greatest works often bend or break traditional forms for expressive impact.

Takeaways

• 🎼 The sonata is a multi-movement work that explores different moods and keys, typically starting with a first movement in sonata form.
• 🎵 A concerto is like a sonata but for solo instruments and orchestra, exploring the contrast between the individual and the collective sound.
• 👤 The balance between the soloist and the orchestra is crucial in a concerto, with the need for both to shine without one overpowering the other.
• 🎻 The history of the concerto form includes the use of 'ritornello' sections, which are orchestral interludes that frame solo sections and provide thematic unity.
• 🎷 Handel's approach to concertos involves careful orchestration, ensuring the soloist and orchestra have moments to stand out individually and together.
• 🎶 Vivaldi's concertos, including 'The Four Seasons', use the ritornello structure to balance the soloist and orchestra, with the main theme introduced by the full orchestra.
• 🎵🎼 The concerto grosso, exemplified by Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, features a group of soloists in opposition to the full orchestra, creating a rich texture of harmony.
• 🎹 The classical era saw the development of the sonata form in concertos, which required a more complex interaction between the soloist and orchestra, with the orchestra playing a larger role.
• 🎻🏆 Virtuosity is important in concertos, but it's not just about showing off; it's about achieving a balanced and expressive performance.
• 🎼🎷 The entry of the soloist in a concerto is a critical moment that should capture attention and demonstrate the individuality of the performer against the orchestra.
• 🎶🎵 The structure of a typical classical concerto includes three movements: a dramatic first movement, a slow middle movement, and a faster finale, with the first movement often in sonata form.

Q & A

What is the basic structure of a sonata?

A sonata is a multi-movement work that typically begins with a first movement in sonata form, followed by a slow movement, a dance or scherzo movement, and concludes with a grand finale, which could be a rondo or another sonata form or similar structure.

What is the main difference between a sonata and a concerto?

A concerto is essentially a sonata for solo instruments or solo instruments and orchestra, exploring the contrast between the individual soloist and the collective orchestra.

What is the key element to the concerto form according to the script?

The key to the concerto form is balance, not just virtuosity and showing off, but a well-balanced dialogue between the soloist and the orchestra.

How did George Frederick Handel approach the balance between soloist and orchestra in his arias?

Handel carefully managed when to let the orchestra shine alone, when to let the soloists shine alone, and when and to what extent to combine them, ensuring both elements had their moments to stand out.

What is the purpose of the 'ritornello' in concertos?

The ritornello serves as a recurring orchestral theme that frames the solo sections, providing a sense of return or 'refrain' to the main musical material.

How does Vivaldi's 'Spring Concerto' use the ritornello?

In Vivaldi's 'Spring Concerto', the ritornello is introduced at the beginning and end of the movement, with shorter versions interspersed between solo sections, creating a balanced contrast between the orchestra and soloists.

What is a 'concerto grosso'?

A concerto grosso, like Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, features a full orchestra against a group of soloists, creating a balance between the large ensemble and the smaller group of featured instruments.

How did the development of sonata form impact the concerto?

The development of sonata form led to a more complex concerto structure, with the orchestra playing a more significant role and the soloist needing to be even more brilliant to stand out against the expanded orchestra.

What is the role of the 'cadenza' in a concerto?

The cadenza is a virtuosic, unaccompanied passage for the soloist, allowing for a display of technical skill and musicality, often developing the themes of the movement further.

How do the middle and final movements of a concerto typically differ from the first movement?

The middle movement is usually slow and the finale is faster, often employing simpler forms like ABA or ABACA. The focus is less on the soloist's entrance and more on the interaction between the soloist and the orchestra throughout.

What does the script suggest about the relationship between formal structures and the greatest concertos?

The script suggests that while formal structures provide a guide, the greatest concertos often break these rules, using the models to create unique and expressive works that go beyond the textbook form.