Holbrooke: Violin Concerto, 'The Grasshopper'

Featuring

Kerenza Peacock
Robert Stevenson
Mark Smith
Joseph Holbrooke

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Critical Reception

Holbrooke was known for his combative manner and tough approach to criticism, which alienated performers and critics.

Composer Biography

Joseph Holbrooke, who sometimes styled himself Josef, struggled to make a living as a musical director, teacher, and pianist, even performing Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto on multiple occasions.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Holbrooke never adopted atonalism, and his Four Futurist Dances, Op. 66, for solo piano, may have been intended to lampoon the trendiness of composers like Ornstein and Schoenberg.

Recording & Production

This album features world premiere recordings of Joseph Holbrooke's Violin Sonata No. 1, Horn Trio (original version), Violin Concerto 'The Grasshopper', and L'Extase.

Compositional Technique

Holbrooke's Violin Concerto 'The Grasshopper' was intentionally scored lightly, using no heavy brass and few violins, to allow the solo violin to project effectively.

Composition History

Holbrooke's Second Symphony led to a commission from Lord Howard de Walden, a generous financial benefactor who supported the composer until his death in 1946.