Luo Rao: Three Hungarian Sketches

Author: (Hungarian) Lóránt Rózsás
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-04-01
Features: The title "Three Hungarian Sketches" comes from the composer's Hungarian background. These sketches are not only rich in rhythm and melody but also well-structured. Although the composer never used folk materials, his themes possess the characteristics of Hungarian folk music. "Caprice" consists of three sections. First is a rhythmic and short sentence constructed by descending fourth intervals, played by the viola in 5/4 time as the theme. This thematic material, in the form of a caprice, is then repeated by the entire orchestra. The oboe plays a folk-like second theme, but it is interrupted twice by the fourth-motif from the beginning of the piece, then developed, and brought back to the main theme by the solo violin, gradually evolving into the entire orchestra playing "forte." After the solo violin improvises a melody in the high register, the movement concludes with "piano," ending with a section of the caprice played by the low-string instruments with pizzicato and timpani.