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John Adams

Violin Concerto (Adams)

The Violin Concerto by the American composer John Adams was written in 1993. Its premiere was on January 19, 1994, by Jorja Fleezanis with the Minnesota Orchestra, conducted by Edo de Waart, at the

Structure#

The work is in three movements: It is dedicated to the memory of David Huntley of Boosey & Hawkes.

Instrumentation#

The work calls for solo violin accompanied by an orchestra with the following instrumentation. ;Woodwinds : 2 flutes (both doubling piccolos) : 2 oboes (2nd doubling cor anglais) : 2 clarinets (2nd doubling bass clarinet) : 2 bassoons ;Brass : 2 horns in F : trumpet in C ;Percussion : 2 players, doubling on : timpani : guiro : 3 bongo drums : 2 conga drums : bass drum : suspended cymbal : tambourine : claves : high cowbell : vibraphone : marimba : tubular bells ;Keyboards : 2 synthesizers ;Strings : violin I (minimum 6) : violin II (minimum 6) : violas (minimum 5) : cellos (minimum 5) : double basses (minimum 2)

Recordings#

The first recording was by Gidon Kremer and the London Symphony Orchestra In 2017 Orchid Classics released a recording (coupled with the Korngold violin concerto), with soloist Ilya Gringolts and the Copenhagen Philharmonic conducted by Santtu-Matias Rouvali.

  • John Adams on his Violin Concerto Interview from Perspectives of New Music
  • Violin Concerto Tech Specs by Mark Grey, sound designer for John Adams
Composer
John Adams