Beethoven composed only two
one-movement pieces for violin and orchestra, both titled "Romance", an unusual
designation in his time and ours. Both are Adagio in tempo and major in
key. And although they were most likely written for Beethoven's friend
Ignaz Schuppanzigh (first violinist in a string quartet bearing his name which
premiered many of Beethoven's quartets), they received only two performances in
the composer's lifetime. They remain all too rarely performed
today. The F-Major Romance displays Beethoven's often-overlooked gift for
melody as the solo violin is featured throughout. The orchestra part,
here reduced for the piano, is relegated to the role of accompanist.
Eleven opus numbers later, Beethoven would write another piece for violin with
a much-expanded role for the orchestra. But here in the Romance, all is
distilled into a work of elegant simplicity. Nathan Cole
Classical Music | Violin Music
Ludwig van Beethoven
Romance in F Major, Op. 50 Play
Recorded on 08/03/2004, uploaded on 01/11/2009
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Romance in F Major, Op. 50 Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven composed only two one-movement pieces for violin and orchestra, both titled "Romance", an unusual designation in his time and ours. Both are Adagio in tempo and major in key. And although they were most likely written for Beethoven's friend Ignaz Schuppanzigh (first violinist in a string quartet bearing his name which premiered many of Beethoven's quartets), they received only two performances in the composer's lifetime. They remain all too rarely performed today. The F-Major Romance displays Beethoven's often-overlooked gift for melody as the solo violin is featured throughout. The orchestra part, here reduced for the piano, is relegated to the role of accompanist. Eleven opus numbers later, Beethoven would write another piece for violin with a much-expanded role for the orchestra. But here in the Romance, all is distilled into a work of elegant simplicity. Nathan Cole
More music by Ludwig van Beethoven
32 Variations in c minor, WoO 80
Sonata for cello and piano in g minor, Op 5, No. 2
Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor "Für Elise"
Seven Variations on “Bei Mannern, welche Liebe fuhlen” from Die Zauberflote by Mozart
7 Variations
Cello Sonata No. 3 in A Major, Op. 69
Sonata Op. 53 III
Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109
Andante
Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op.53, "Waldstein"
Performances by same musician(s)
Romance in f minor, Op. 11
Sonata No. 3 in d minor for solo violin, "Ballade"
Sonata for Violin and Piano
Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 8 in G Major, Op. 30, No. 3
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