Alexander Street: Music

Classical Music Library's Free Download of the Week: Prokofiev's Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1, Op. 80

Written mainly in 1946, with some material dating back to 1938, the First Violin Sonata is a gloomy and intense work. Prokofiev worked closely with its dedicatee David Oistrakh on the violin part, and the result is a work that exploits the range and qualities of the instruments to their fullest potential. Oistrakh gave its first performance with Lev Oborin on 23 October 1946.

An impassioned and anguish-filled first movement contains some remarkable passages including what the composer described as "wind in a graveyard" (rapid violin scales over a piano chorale). The second movement, by way of contrast, is an exuberant and violent Allegro brusco. A colorful Andante follows before the finale, with its remarkable and mercurial cross-rhythms and gentle epilogue.

This recording is performed by Gaëtane Prouvost (Violin), Abdel Rahman El Bacha (Piano).

Download this work through Dec 13, 2007.

Classical Music Library Free Download of the Week: Mahler's Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor

Mahler's Symphony No. 5 was written in the calm surroundings of Mainerigg and completed in 1902. His first purely orchestral symphony since the 1st, the fifth marks a new approach to narrative: rather than a song or extra-musical text, Mahler himself becomes the subject of his symphonies.

The Symphony is divided into three sections. The first section opens with a funeral march followed by a turbulent Allegro. The scherzo that comprises section two is the heart of the work, and was composed first. The final section consists of a triumphant rondo finale preceded by the famous Adagietto introduction.

This recording is performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Frank Shipway, conductor.

Download of the Week: Kreisler's Caprice Viennois

The eminent violinist Fritz Kreisler was also a talented composer who wrote operettas, a string quartet and some songs. However, he is chiefly known for his works for the violin, virtuosic showpieces commonly played as encores. Exhibiting Kreisler's rare gifts for
melody and inventive harmonies, these miniatures are much-loved by audiences and violinists alike.

The beautiful lilting melody of Caprice Viennois is introduced after a mysterious introduction. The sensual richness of the violin's double stops (playing two notes at once) creates a wonderfully languorous atmosphere, interrupted only by a comic passage of frenetic activity. The piece ends with the violin posing a final question that the piano softly dismisses, matter-of-factly!

This recording is performed by Jonathan Carney, violin; Ronan O'Hora, piano.

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Download of the Week: Grieg's Holberg Suite, Op. 40

Grieg spent the summer of 1884 composing music to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Holberg, the celebrated Norwegian writer and historian. In addition to a male-voice cantata, the composer also produced a suite for piano, From Holberg's Time. Commonly known as the Holberg Suite, the work was arranged for strings the following year and has become one of the composer's most popular works.

From Holberg's Time is a charming take on a Baroque Suite, using the names and formal structure of eighteenth century dances to create a varied and entertaining work.

This recording is performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Yuri Simonov, conductor.

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Download of the Week: Elgar's Serenade for Strings, Op. 20

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About this work :
Work on the Serenade for Strings occupied Elgar between March and May 1892, when he presented it to his wife Alice as an anniversary present. Although the serenade was initially rejected when sent to Novello, Elgar held the work dear, commenting in 1904 that he liked it as much as anything he had written.

The first and third movements are charming, but the emotional weight of the work lies in the elegaic slow movment. This Larghetto is perhaps the finest creation of Elgar's early period and anticipates the wistful beauty he would turn to in later works.

This recording is performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; Barry Wordsworth, conductor.

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