Violin Concerto No. 0: For Violin Solo and Piano

Author: Wang Qiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: The composer Wang Qiang graduated from the Composition Department of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in 1960 and taught at the conservatory until 1991 before moving to Hong Kong. This three-movement concerto does not have a specific theme, but the composer employs the diverse playing techniques of the violin and the rich sonic and tonal colors of the orchestra to express musical ideas. Through the different tempos and dynamics of the three movements, the composer conveys inner emotions.
Movement I: Full of vitality, aspiring upward, the melody often shifts suddenly by a half step, changing modes and tonalities to create contrasting moods. The composer also uses many modern compositional techniques, evoking a sense of ancient Peking Opera scales, which is quite fascinating.
Movement II: The violin sings a sorrowful song, drifting between major and minor seconds like a sigh. The cadenza in the middle of the movement resembles a monologue, as if reflecting the contradictions within a person's inner world.
Movement III: The musical theme is vibrant, with and agility in the musical ideas. The solo part is quite challenging, reflecting the composer's personality. The orchestra and soloist vie with each other, neither yielding. Suddenly, the violin introduces a new theme. The composer employs various modern techniques here, and the orchestration is also brilliant. The piece concludes with a grand tutti.