Violin Concerto in D major (1806)

Online essay @ classicalnotes.net

Violin concertos @ wikipedia   Best Violin Concertos


      Unlike the popular "Kreutzer" violin sonata of 1803 which was written in the bravura style of French violinist/composer Giovanni Viotti, the Violin Concerto of 1806 was written for Viennese violinist Franz Clement who was known for his clear singing tone on the highest violin string.  Here Beethoven focused on lyrical writing and sensitive harmonies while avoiding "dark" emotions.  The 23 minute allegro first movement and the 8 minute larghetto second movement are stunning in their beauty.  The 10 minute romp on a hunting melody in a dance-able in 3/4 time in the third movement provides a joyous ending.    

      Yet the premier was panned by critics with the now usual claim that Beethoven's new work was "disjointed" and a call for him to return to his more Mozartian style of the first and second symphonies.  It would be several decades before the work would resuscitated and eventually would  seen as one of the great violin concertos in the classical repertoire.



        1.  Allegro ma non troppo  (D major)   23:30
        2.  Larghetto (G major)                           8:30
        3.  Rondo. Allegro (D major)               10:00