Kolja Blacher, the violinist on this recording, plays the 1730 'Tritton' Stradivarius, on loan from Miss Kimiko Powers.
Composition History
The Violin Concerto was initially written under the impression of violinist Peder Møller's excellent skills, but it was ultimately dedicated to Nielsen's son-in-law, Emil Telmányi, a Hungarian violin virtuoso and conductor.
Composition History
Nielsen began composing his Violin Concerto in Norway, using Edvard Grieg's composing cottage in Troldhaugen near Bergen, before completing it in Copenhagen.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Carl Nielsen is considered an "anti-romantic" composer, showing deep respect for basic intervals in his melodies and using modal changes influenced by his study of Palestrina's works.
Compositional Technique
The Violin Concerto is Nielsen's most generously structured and richly orchestrated work for solo instrument and orchestra, contrasting with his later, more chamber music-like concertos.
Composer Biography
Carl Nielsen, one of the leading Scandinavian composers, was born on the Baltic Sea island of Funen in 1865 and became a member of a military band at fourteen.
Compositional Technique
Carl Nielsen's Violin Concerto uses a principle of 'progressive tonality,' starting in G minor and ending in D major, consciously avoiding a circular harmonic resolution.
