Violoncello exercises the left hand. Par STARKER JANOS. / Date parution : 2022-05-14/ Méthode / Violoncelle

For Bb Soprano (or Bb Tenor) Saxophone and Small Orchestra-This dance-driven saxophone concerto in miniature demonstrates how Villa-Lobos could integrate nearly any instrument into a Brazilian sound world while still composing a fully 'classical' piece. Of the three short movements the first 'Animé ' is the longest clocking in at about four minutes. An agitated downward cascade for the strings ushers in the soloist playing an angular strongly rhythmic theme relying on quickly repeated notes. A second melody is much broader and more luxurious and spreads across half the movement before the opening rat-a-tat theme begins to insinuate itself very subtly into the proceedings again. Even then the more lyrical melody remains in control to the movement's end. The second movement 'Lent ' relies on a sexy chromatic melody that lingers in the soprano saxophone's high register. After only the briefest pause the finale 'Très animé ' arrives with an impulsive sometimes jittery theme over a firm beat. The solo part wanders off into trills while the small orchestra stretches out in long voluptuous chords. But soon the dance rhythm returns stronger than ever bouncing toward a conclusion in which the saxophone departs with an upward flourish seeming to vanish from the movement without providing a harmonic resolution. (James Reel All Music Guide)

from Les Chansons des Roses-In addition to his vast output of German poetry Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) composed nearly 400 poems in French. His poems on roses struck me as especially charming filled with gorgeous lyricism deftly crafted and elegant in their imagery. These exquisite poems are primarily light joyous and playful and the musical settings are designed to enhance these characteristics and capture the delicate beauty and sensuousness of the poetry. Distinct melodic and harmonic materials recur throughout the cycle especially between Rilke''s poignant 'Contre qui rose' (set as a wistful nocturne) and his moving 'La rose complète.' The final piece 'Dirait-on ' is composed as a tuneful chanson populaire or folksong that weaves together two melodic ideas first heard in fragmentary form in preceding movements. 'Les Chansons des Roses' was premiered and recorded in 1993 by Portland Oregon ''s celebrated chamber choir Choral Cross-Ties conducted by Bruce Browne. The complete cycle has been widely performed since then and also recorded by the Los Angeles Master Chorale Los Angeles Chamber Singers Nordic Chamber Choir and tonight's performers the Donald Brinegar Singers. (Morten Lauridsen)