The Beauty of Britten’s Violin Concerto

Although Britten’s violin concerto is more modern than the more familiar romantic favorites, there are passages that are deeply lyrical, passionately driven and quite expressive. Britten is able to pull together all of these moments without ever comprising his unique voice.

We’ve collected five excerpts from the piece that demonstrate its beauty!

 

Listen to this passage early on in the first movement that calls for the violinist to play multiple three-note chords consecutively with “the greatest force.”

 

Britten carefully maintains a darkness throughout this work, but it has many layers. In this chillingly beautiful part, Britten makes the music eerie and irresistible by combining the luscious sound of the strings with sporadic winds and drums. Listen to how he moves from somber to tender.

 

Britten’s beautiful contrasts continue in this excerpt. At the end of the first movement, he takes the solo violinist from a dissonant, grungy sound in the low register to an atmospheric, almost celestial delicacy in just a few seconds. Listen to this deeply moving ending.

 

As you can tell from the last example, Britten had a gift for writing in the higher register. Listen to how he weaves intricate lines with the solo violinists and wind instruments, in some of their highest notes, without it sounding too “shriek-y” or unappealing.

 

Now hear the same theme presented by the strings, while the brass gradually climb upward to what becomes the climax of the whole piece.

 

Something extra: Normally, a violinist either plucks a string or plays it with the standard bow. In the cadenza for this piece, which connects the second and last movements, Britten instructs the violinist to do both at the same time! Bow with the right hand, and pluck with the left hand.

 

Don’t miss Augustin Hadelich bring passion and intensity, as well as graceful musicianship, to this piece in his return engagement with the NJSO November 1–4.

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