Product Description
This isn't a piece to be attempted by the light hearted. Though the seperate elements by themselves make sense, together they create a jarring feel, figuratively "pulling you apart" through emotion. Suited to more advant garde tastes, as well as intermediate students wishing to explore the fantasys of modern expressive expressionist music, Romance is a recommended choice for any solo violin performer.
The notes are easy to play, but the expression is very counterintuitive. In the sections with the chromatic piano chords, the violin is "fighting" the piano's relentless rhythm, resulting in uncomfortable dissonances and a disagreeable juxtaposition. This resolves into a lyrical major 7th chord, which drifts into dramatic crescendos and decrescendos. The dynamic changes in this section, as well as those at the end of the piece, need to be as expressive as possible - they are the most defining and passionate caricatures in the whole piece.
We then modulate unexpectedly down a semitone, a change which is never resolved, and we pass through a series of rhythmic variations on the modulated tune until we finally arrive straight into the dynamic contrasts section which ends the brief, potent duet. The final chord, notated in cross noteheads, should be implied to be a final loud outburst, but instead turn out to be a hanging note of despairingly suspended time and happiness.
Overall, Romance should be approached with a mix of interest and caution. A stunning opportunity for modernists to show off their romantic flavour, it is a challenge that I wholeheartedly recommend you accept.
This product was created by a member of ArrangeMe, Hal Leonard's global self-publishing community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters. ArrangeMe allows for the publication of unique arrangements of both popular titles and original compositions from a wide variety of voices and backgrounds.