Concerto Grosso (Vaughan Williams)

Concerto Grosso is a work for string orchestra by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Originally composed in 1950 for a performance by the Rural Schools Music Association conducted by Sir Adrian Boult,^[1] the piece is unique in that the orchestra is split into three sections based on skill: Concertino (Advanced), Tutti (Intermediate), and Ad Lib (Novice) which only plays open strings. The piece is in five movements, and performances generally run for 14 minutes.

Movements

I. Intrada: A dramatic theme that features heavy string writing
II. Burlesca Ostinata: A sprightly movement making brilliant use of perfect fifths to allow the "Ad Lib" players (who can only play open strings (tuned in intervals of perfect fifths) to play the theme.
III. Sarabande: A slow movement in triple time as indicated by the movement's name
IV. Scherzo: An energetic but lyrical short scherzo and a small coda
V. March and Reprise: A very lively march with much syncopation, leading seamlessly into a full reprise of the first movement.

References

↑ Alain Frogley; Aidan J. Thomson (14 November 2013). The Cambridge Companion to Vaughan Williams. Cambridge Companions to Music. Cambridge University Press. p. 238. ISBN 978-1-107-65026-8.

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