Rhapsody for string orchestra
| Full title | Rhapsody for string orchestra in D Minor op. 30 / Rhapsodie D-moll für Streichorchester op. 30 | |
| Date composed | 1931 | |
| Details |
Mäßig langsam—Andante mosso Lebhaft Vivace Mäßig Moderato Adagio Sehr langsam Composer's adaptation for string orchestra of the String Sextet in D Minor (composed 1906). According to an annotation by Vally Weigl written in ink on the inside cover of a copy of the published U.E. score (KWF archives), “the composer later felt that some cuts would be a desirous improvement, yet failed to insert these himself. Frederic Waldman, one of his close students indicated them to his best knowledge and recollection.” Vally Weigl then enumerated several of the suggested cuts. Dedication: An Aubry und Käte Kempner. Performance duration: ca. 32 min. |
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| Manuscript sources | ÖNB Mus.Hs.36838 (48 pages), holograph[?] score. See also NYPL PB 99-7 no. 90, copyist's score (65 pages). | |
| Publication details | Universal Edition, 1935: full score (U.E. 10245). Weigl signed and dated the contract for this work with Universal Edition on 22 November 1933. (The document is a standard two-page, printed UE Form B contract, with title and various stipulations entered with typewriter; the two pages are stamped with the numbers 4347 and 4348). To the work title, here Streichorchester-Rhapsodie, Weigl, in ink, added “op. 30.” The contract called for Weigl’s providing “eine für Dirigierzwecke geeignete Partitur und drei spielfähige Materiale” (a performance-ready conducting score and three sets of parts). Should UE use that material Weigl would receive 50% of the rental fees, otherwise, should new performance materials be prepared by UE, Weigl would receive 25% of the rental fees. In 1935 UE did indeed produce an engraved full score. Here the work is titled Rhapsodie für Streichorchester [Streichsextett D-moll für 2 Violinen, 2 Violen und 2 Violoncelli] Op. 30. The title page carries, in addition to the dedication, the additional note: Wird das Stück in seiner ursprünglichen Fassung als Streichsextett gespielt fällt der Kontrabass weg, desgleichen sind dann natürlich die Bezeichnungen Solo u. Tutti / div. und unis. gegenstandslos. |
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| Availabiity | Performance score and parts available from UE/EAM, FCP, and KWF; miniature study score available from UE/AEM and Musikproduktion Höfer. | |
| Recordings | Tonkünstler Kammerorchester, cond. Bijan Khadem-Missagh (CD: ORF Radio Niederösterreich 109, 1997; recorded 1990). | |
| Listen |
Rhapsody for string orchestra: movement 1, Andante |
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Performances (click
icon to expand or collapse list)| August 1990 | Stift Altenburg, Niederösterreich: Tonkünstler Kammerorchester, cond. Bijan Khadem-Missagh (recorded by ORF Radio Niederösterreich); for performances of work as string quartet see String Sextet in D Minor. |
| 29 June 2006 | Berlin, Kammermusiksaal der Philharmonia: Ensemble Oriol Berlin, cond. Erich Höbarth. Also on program: Mozart, Divertimento in D major KV 334; and Mendesllsohn, String Symphony No. 10 in B minor. |
| 22 June 2012 | Cherbourg, France: L’Ensemble de Basse Normandie cond. Jean-Pierre Wallez: Rhapsody for string orchestra. Also on program: Bartók, Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta; Vykintas Baltakas, (c0)ro(na); Eric Zeisl, Scherzo and Fugue; and Nikos Skalkottas, 5 Greek Dances. The concert was repeated on 23 and 24 June. |
| 22 June 2012 | Cherbourg, France: L’Ensemble de Basse Normandie cond. Jean-Pierre Wallez: Rhapsody for string orchestra. Also on program: Bartók, Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta; Vykintas Baltakas, (c0)ro(na); Eric Zeisl, Scherzo and Fugue; and Nikos Skalkottas, 5 Greek Dances. The concert was repeated on 23 and 24 June. |
