Page 181 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained
P. 181
ROMANTIC 1810–1920 179
I LIVE IN MUSIC
LIKE A FISH
IN WATER
PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 IN G MINOR (1868),
CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS
he French composer replaced the usual fast-slow-fast
IN CONTEXT Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano sequence of movements with a
T Concerto No. 2 premiered in slow-fast-faster progression, giving
FOCUS Paris in May 1868. It had taken him rise to the quip that it “begins with
19th-century solo 17 days of flat-out labor to finish it Bach and ends with Offenbach.”
concertos
in time for the concert, which his Lack of rehearsal time resulted
BEFORE friend, the Russian musician Anton in a disappointing premiere, but the
1830 Chopin’s Piano Concerto Rubinstein, conducted. Saint-Saëns concerto won admirers and remains
No. 1 in E minor is premiered played the solo part. a staple of the concert repertoire.
in Warsaw, Poland. Saint-Saëns wrote another three
Exploring the form concertos for the piano, three for
1836 Clara Schumann writes Solo concertos had evolved over the the violin, and two for the cello. ■
her Piano Concerto in A minor, course of the 19th century. Dazzling
nine years before her husband, displays by virtuoso performer-
Robert Schumann, writes his composers, notably violinist
Piano Concerto in A minor. Paganini and pianists Chopin and
Liszt, dominated the years after
1849 Liszt completes the final 1810, with the orchestra providing
version of his Piano Concerto little more than a backdrop. Later He who does not get
No. 1 in E-flat major. figures, such as Robert Schumann, absolute pleasure from
a simple series of well-
AFTER called for a better balance. constructed chords, beautiful
1868 Grieg composes one Most major composers of the only in their arrangement,
of the most popular piano time, including Mendelssohn, is not really fond of music.
Brahms, Grieg, and Dvorˇák, wrote
concertos ever written, his concertos and experimented Camille Saint-Saëns
Piano Concerto in A minor.
widely with the form. In his Piano
1881 Johannes Brahms Concerto No. 2, Saint-Saëns ignored
completes his Piano Concerto convention by opening not with
No. 2 in B-flat major. the orchestra but with a solo piano
prelude in the style of Bach, and he
See also: Pièces de clavecin 82–83 ■ Scarlatti’s Sonata in D minor, K.9,
“Pastorale” 90–91 ■ Clementi’s Piano Sonata in F-sharp minor 132–133
US_178-179_J_Strauss_Jr_Saint_Saens.indd 179 26/03/18 1:01 PM
