Concerto instrument - a poll

[False_Dmitry]

Anything but the flute, please     Twiddle-twiddle, arpeggio-up, arpeggio-down, absurdly-high-note-and-chromatic-scale-downwards, aren't-I-clever-and-loveable? 

The flute is the "blonde" of the orchestra

[jochanaan]

Anything but the flute, please     Twiddle-twiddle, arpeggio-up, arpeggio-down, absurdly-high-note-and-chromatic-scale-downwards, aren't-I-clever-and-loveable? 

The flute is the "blonde" of the orchestra

I challenge you to listen to Charles T. Griffes' Poem for Flute and Orchestra.  Caution: it may be a mind-changing experience.

In my mind, the question isn't "Which is my favorite instrument for a concerto?"  but rather, "Which instruments are shamefully neglected in the solo concerto repertoire?"  Sadly, that category includes a large number of beautiful instruments. For example, my own primary instrument, the oboe, has no major 19th-century concertos written for it, although there are stacks of concertos from the Baroque and even Classical periods, including Mozart's well-known work, and a decent number of 20th-century concertos headed by the R. Strauss concerto...

[False_Dmitry]

the oboe, has no major 19th-century concertos written for it, although there are stacks of concertos from the Baroque and even Classical periods, including Mozart's well-known work, and a decent number of 20th-century concertos headed by the R. Strauss concerto...

I've always asssumed there were sociological reasons behind that - that there were not "world-touring" soloists playing concertos in the C19th, except really for the piano, violin, and cello.  It's hard to think of a "major" C19th concerto for any of the brass family, if we come to think of it?   And yet - returning to the flute - there's a vast literature of concert paraphrases, variations on opera melodies etc,  primarily for flute & piano.  I wonder why these instruments were "confined" to the salon or bandstand?  It can't surely be because of a lack of good players (since orchestral scores are increasingly more challenging, and there are orchestral solos), or because of lagging instrument technology.

[abidoful]

my own primary instrument, the oboe, has no major 19th-century concertos written for it

What about the BELLINI Concerto?( Just "reminding"/asking- don't miss that!!! )

Anything but the flute, please     Twiddle-twiddle, arpeggio-up, arpeggio-down, absurdly-high-note-and-chromatic-scale-downwards, aren't-I-clever-and-loveable? 

The flute is the "blonde" of the orchestra

haha- but I'm fortunate to think otherwise; I know one B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L  modern flute concerto (from my former composing teacher.... ) : PALOMAR; Concerto for Flute and Orchestra by Kai Nieminen.

[Brahmsian]

The Cello.  It's my favorite instrument, what else can I say?   

[Gurn Blanston]

The Cello.  It's my favorite instrument, what else can I say?   

Hey Ray. Well, I know people hate hearing nice things about Vivaldi (even though he was my favorite composer of the first half of the 18th century), but do you know that the first concerti for solo cello were by him? And also, he has the greatest number of them (28) of any composer ever.  Just sayin...

[False_Dmitry]

  It can't surely be because of a lack of good players (since orchestral scores are increasingly more challenging, and there are orchestral solos), or because of lagging instrument technology.

Just thinking about this some more, there were astonishing virtuosi on other instruments in the C19th, like the famous French cornet-player and professor, Arban.  However, his solo performances were mostly limited to the bandstand.  His legendary Methode for the cornet (he noted that he hoped it would also keep the trumpet "alive", since it was "dying out of use") is still in use even today.  The "Concert Studies" which form the final section of the Methode are of the same degree of complexity and virtuosity as concerti, showing that the musicianship was there...  but no-one was writing concerti.

[Franco]

Hey Ray. Well, I know people hate hearing nice things about Vivaldi (even though he was my favorite composer of the first half of the 18th century), but do you know that the first concerti for solo cello were by him? And also, he has the greatest number of them (28) of any composer ever.  Just sayin...

Since you mention Vivaldi, it is worth noting that the bassoon has not garnered a single vote, despite Vivaldi's, what?, 37 or more bassoon concerti.  I love those works (although they seem to blur into one large concerto), and the sound of the bassoon in general - but don't know other concertos for it beyond the Vivaldi.

[Gurn Blanston]

Since you mention Vivaldi, it is worth noting that the bassoon has not garnered a single vote, despite Vivaldi's, what?, 37 or more bassoon concerti.  I love those works (although they seem to blur into one large concerto), and the sound of the bassoon in general - but don't know other concertos for it beyond the Vivaldi.

There were several Classical Era composers who wrote for the bassoon, not least of which was the alleged Mozart. One of my favorites is Rosetti who has 3 or 4 of them, and Hummel has a nice one too. If I was home I could give you a list of them (pretty sure that Danzi, Krommer & Devienne were in there), but suffice to say that it was alive and well up to the Romantic takeover of tasteful music.



(BTW, I voted for Cello, but would have been happy with Bassoon too, but one man, one vote... )

[Brahmsian]

Hey Ray. Well, I know people hate hearing nice things about Vivaldi (even though he was my favorite composer of the first half of the 18th century), but do you know that the first concerti for solo cello were by him? And also, he has the greatest number of them (28) of any composer ever.  Just sayin...

I have nothing at all against Vivaldi, I like his music!    I did not know that fact, Gurn.

[Gurn Blanston]

I have nothing at all against Vivaldi, I like his music!    I did not know that fact, Gurn.

The Bach Faction wouldn't have wanted you to know it, Ray. But it is my obligation to the world that I spread wonderful musical trivia wherever I go...

[Guido]

Cello obviously.

The Vivaldi cello concertos are almost all delightful - many are very beautiful, all have surprises - amazing that he never repeated himself.

[Brahmsian]

Cello obviously.

The Vivaldi cello concertos are almost all delightful - many are very beautiful, all have surprises - amazing that he never repeated himself.

Contrary to what Igor said.... 

[Sergeant Rock]

Cello obviously.

The Vivaldi cello concertos are almost all delightful - many are very beautiful, all have surprises - amazing that he never repeated himself.

I agree with you. The slow movements especially are miniature gems with surprising emotional depth.

Sarge

[Guido]

Yes Sarge - most are in minor keys I think (all but 3? I forget) - he obviously had a thing for lower instruments.

[Gurn Blanston]

An unusually high proportion are in minor, but not that many! He liked a minor a lot, and so do I.



RV 398   C
RV 399   C
RV 400   C
RV 401   c
RV 402   c
RV 403   D
RV 404   D
RV 405   d
RV 406   d
RV 407   d
RV 408   Eb
RV 410   F
RV 411   F
RV 412   F
RV 413   G
RV 414   G
RV 415   G
RV 416   g
RV 417   g
RV 418   a
RV 419   a
RV 420   a
RV 421   a
RV 422   a
RV 423   Bb
RV 424   b

[Guido]

An unusually high proportion are in minor, but not that many! He liked a minor a lot, and so do I.



RV 398   C
RV 399   C
RV 400   C
RV 401   c
RV 402   c
RV 403   D
RV 404   D
RV 405   d
RV 406   d
RV 407   d
RV 408   Eb
RV 410   F
RV 411   F
RV 412   F
RV 413   G
RV 414   G
RV 415   G
RV 416   g
RV 417   g
RV 418   a
RV 419   a
RV 420   a
RV 421   a
RV 422   a
RV 423   Bb
RV 424   b

Ok haha! Thinking about it I should have guessed more as I've actually played two of them that were major! RV398 is a particular gem.

[Gurn Blanston]

Ok haha! Thinking about it I should have guessed more as I've actually played two of them that were major! RV398 is a particular gem.

Yes it is. Always liked that one. But even so, right at half of them are in the minor, and that in itself is extraordinarily high.

[MN Dave]

Piano. All other answers show a lack of good musical taste.

[jochanaan]

What about the BELLINI Concerto?( Just "reminding"/asking- don't miss that!!! )

As I was saying... Seriously, the Bellini is a lovely piece, but hardly "major."  Come to think of it, I think there's also a Donizetti concerto, lovely but hardly a major challenge, except technically.

Once over the local classical radio station I did hear a concerto by a completely unknown German composer, whose name I can't remember now but who the announcer said was a friend of Robert Schumann, and it was actually a very nice concerto, both a virtuoso piece and fairly substantial musically.  I wouldn't mind working up that one for my own repertoire...