Romance in A minor (Bruch)

Max Bruch's Romance for Violin and Orchestra in A minor, Op. 42, was composed in 1874. Bruch had intended the piece to form the first movement of a projected second violin concerto.^{[lower-alpha 1][1][2]} However the composer found himself unable to progress beyond the first movement and chose to publish the work as a standalone concert piece dedicated to violinist Robert Heckmann who along with Joseph Joachim had assisted Bruch with the violin part.^{[lower-alpha 2][3]}

Background

Bruch started work on what he had planned to be his second violin concerto while preparing to conduct his choral work Odysseus: Szenen aus der Odyssee, Op. 41 in Cologne, by the the 11th of February he had completed the first movement and indicated to friends that he had beginnings of the projected second and third movements. However, perhaps due to personal issues, most notably a relationship with Amalie Heydweiller, which Christopher Fitfield speculates may have been the inspiration for the completed movement, Bruch found himself unable to complete the remaining movements. His decision to publish the work as a single movement concert peice, was based in part on the positive reception of his friends to the completed movement.^[4]

Instrumentation

The composition is scored for solo violin and an orchestra comprising Strings, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets, 4 horns and timpani.

Strutcture

The composition consists of a single movement marked movement marked Andante sostenuto and typical performances last between 10 to 12 minutes.

References

Notes

1. Bruch eventually composed a completely different work for Pablo de Sarasate in 1877-78.
2. Potter speculates that this decision may have affected the works reception as Joachim refused to perform it.

1. Anderson 2006
2. Potter 2006, p. 5
3. Potter 2006, pp. 5-6
4. Fitfield 2005, pp. 142-43

Sources

• Anderson, Keith (2006). Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 26/Konzertstuck, Op. 84/Romance, Op. 42 (CD). Naxos Records. 8.557689.
• Fitfield, Christopher (2005). Max Bruch: His Life and Works. Boydell Press. ISBN 1-84383-136-8.
• Potter, Tully (2016). Bruch: Bruch: Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 26/Romance, Op. 42/Serenade, Op. 75 (PDF) (CD). Hyperion Records. CDA68060.

External links

• Romance in A minor, Op.42: Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
• Wood, Thomas. "Max Bruch Home Page, Catalog of Works: Romance in A Minor for Violin and Orchestra, Op. 42". Wooster College. Archived from the original on June 2, 2011. Retrieved April 2016.
• "Bruch: Romance in A minor, Op. 42, performed in a version for Violin and Piano by Pedro Barreto (violin) and Marina Kapitanova (piano)". YouTube. September 19, 2013.