free episodes, this fugue is more a fantasia
than a learned contrapuntal exercise. The
close link between the Toccata and the
Fugue is emphasized when the Toccata’s
grand gestures return at the end to make
an impressive close.
We’ll hear this work not on its original
instrument but in the opulent large-orchestra arrangement the flamboyant conductor Leopold Stokowski (1882–1977)
made in the early 20th century for The
Philadelphia Orchestra, which he led from
1912 to 1937.
Instrumentation: Instrumentation: Four flutes,
two piccolos, three oboes, English horn, three
oboes, bass clarinet, three bassoons, contrabassoon, six horns, four trumpets, four trombones,
tuba, two harps, celesta and strings.
Violin Concerto in D Major
Igor Stravinsky
Born in Oranienbaum, Russia, June 17, 1882;
died in New York City, April 6, 1971
In the 1930s, an era dominated by such
violin virtuosos as Jascha Heifetz and
Fritz Kreisler, the young Polish-American
violinist Samuel Dushkin knew better
than to challenge these superstars on the
core Beethoven-Brahms-Bruch repertoire.
Fortunately, Dushkin had a genuine
passion for contemporary music and a
desire to expand violinists’ options. In
the spirit of nothing ventured, nothing
gained, he approached Willy Strecker of
the German publishing house of B. Schott
to see if Strecker would act as intermediary in commissioning a concerto from
Igor Stravinsky. Impressed with the idea,
Strecker made the match early in 1931.
The composer was initially less enthusiastic. “I hesitated at first, because I am
not a violinist and I was afraid that my
slight knowledge of that instrument would
not be sufficient to enable me to solve
the many problems … of a major work
specially composed for it.” Stravinsky also
had little patience with the vanities of star
virtuosos. But he was pleasantly surprised
by Dushkin: “Besides his remarkable gifts
as a born violinist, he possessed musical
culture … and—in the exercise of his
Yuletide
AT W I N T E R T H U R
Generations of holiday celebrations have created beautiful Yuletide
traditions. Join us to tour Henry Francis du Pont’s former home decked
in holiday style!
Open daily for holiday tours
NOVEMBER 23–JANUARY 5
For a full schedule of special events, call 800.448.3883 or visit winterthur.org/yuletide.
Sponsored by
Open New Year’s Day. Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas Day.
Winterthur is nestled in Delaware’s beautiful Brandywine Valley on Route 52,
between I-95 and Route 1. Take I-95 to Exit 7 in Delaware.
November– December 2013 |
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