How many concertos for violin, viola, cello, and orchestra are there? Do you have any favorites? Have you heard any at all?
Quote from: Brian on February 19, 2026, 03:43:23 PMHow many concertos for violin, viola, cello, and orchestra are there? Do you have any favorites? Have you heard any at all?
I'm pretty sure I've heard Schnittke's Triple Concerto. It has been so long that I can't recall what it was like specifically. I think it's safe to say it is dark and gnarly. I suspect there are not too terribly too many such concertos.
The Tippett Triple Concerto is the only one I can find in my own collection.
Works for string quartet and orchestra are more common.
Thanks, gang. I'll have to give them both a try.
Quote from: Daverz on February 19, 2026, 04:28:53 PMThe Tippett Triple Concerto is the only one I can find in my own collection.
Works for string quartet and orchestra are more common.
Yeah, the Tippett is the only such work I can think of off the top of my head. It's a fine work in his late style, with magically orchestrated, lyrical
sections contrasting with more angular material.
Also found this googling around, Stamitz: Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola, Cello and Orchestra in A-Major
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2ohi6l
A Sinfonia Concertante for Solo Violin, Viola, Cello and Strings by one Roger Steptoe:
https://www.prestomusic.com/sheet-music/products/7335628--steptoe-sinfonia-concertante-for-solo-violin-viola-cello-and-strings
And an unfinished fragment by Mozart:
"The Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola, Cello and Orchestra in A major, K. Anh. 104 (320e), is an incomplete composition by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinfonia_Concertante_for_Violin,_Viola,_Cello_and_Orchestra_(Mozart)
Thanks for the help, gang! I can now tell you why I asked. 8)
In 2026-27, the Dallas Symphony will be performing TWO new(ish) concertos for string trio and orchestra. One is Kevin Puts' 2022 concerto Contact, for two violins, double bass, and orchestra. The other is a world premiere by Golfam Khayam for the more conventional violin, viola, and cello - including soloists Anne-Sophie Mutter and Kian Soltani.
I thought having two string trio concertos in one season was like seeing two unicorns. Sounds like, unless you reach back to the Stamitz and Vivaldi eras, that's pretty much true!
(We're also getting Denève conducting Roussel, Malkki conducting En Saga, Luisi conducting Eine Alpensinfonie, and the extra-crunchy program of Prokofiev's Second Concerto and Lutoslawski's Concerto for Orchestra together on one bill. Lutoslawski CfO is a DSO mainstay; this will be my third time seeing them do it live in the last 10 years!)
Quote from: Brian on February 26, 2026, 07:45:33 AMI thought having two string trio concertos in one season was like seeing two unicorns. Sounds like, unless you reach back to the Stamitz and Vivaldi eras, that's pretty much true!
It's definitely true. Don't know your concert going plans, but forced to choose one, I'd opt for the Khayam, because it's a world premiere and because Mutter is performing. I find her at her most compelling in 20th Century and modern rep, and though she still concertizes fairly often, that probably won't be the case for too many more years.
Quote from: Brian on February 26, 2026, 07:45:33 AMThanks for the help, gang! I can now tell you why I asked. 8)
In 2026-27, the Dallas Symphony will be performing TWO new(ish) concertos for string trio and orchestra. One is Kevin Puts' 2022 concerto Contact, for two violins, double bass, and orchestra. The other is a world premiere by Golfam Khayam for the more conventional violin, viola, and cello - including soloists Anne-Sophie Mutter and Kian Soltani.
I thought having two string trio concertos in one season was like seeing two unicorns. Sounds like, unless you reach back to the Stamitz and Vivaldi eras, that's pretty much true!
(We're also getting Denève conducting Roussel, Malkki conducting En Saga, Luisi conducting Eine Alpensinfonie, and the extra-crunchy program of Prokofiev's Second Concerto and Lutoslawski's Concerto for Orchestra together on one bill. Lutoslawski CfO is a DSO mainstay; this will be my third time seeing them do it live in the last 10 years!)
Perhaps modern composers are trying to explore underutilized instrumental combinations?