Replies

Hiya Cindy Sue! Thanks for all the cool links. *Hugs*

Too cool on the internet radio sites & I had to watch the fruit tree grafting.

I just discovered that we can grow pink lemon trees here in Az. I had never hear of them before!

Johannes Brahms needed to find a way to patch up his relationship with violinist Joseph Joachim after the mess over Joachim’s divorce. Jo Brahms had taken sides, and it had blown up in his face. His idea was to write a concerto for violin and cello for his old friend and cellist Robert Hausmann, and it worked. In the fall of 1887, Joachim appeared with his violin, Hausmann with his cello, and Brahms conducted this work from the podium. The boys were back together.

This piece has never caught on because of the requirement of having both a great violinist and great cellist on the same stage at the same time. There was also a feeling on the part of Jo’s friends that the piece lacked warmth. There is some truth to this. I’ve run across live performances and recordings that left me cold in spite of the virtuosity displayed. But I ran across a recording from the Fifties that displays both the virtuosity and the Viennese warmth lacking elsewhere.

Usually the cadenza, where the instrumentalist shows off his chops in a solo, comes at the end of a movement. Brahms starts the piece off with a cadenza for cello that is gruff, dissonant, and rather indicative of Brahms’ prickly personality. It is followed by a sweet cadenza for violin accompanied by cello that approximates Brahms’ idea of Joachim’s personality combined with Brahms’ gruffness. Only then does he get down to the work of exposition. Go along for the ride. It’s fun.

The second movement is sweet and songlike, and the finale is a fine example of gypsy writing.

Brahms: Concerto for Violin and Cello in A minor, Op. 102

Hi Connie.

I watched about 6 videos on fruit tree grafting and realized this guy was a very good teacher.

My husband told me his grandfather used to graft some trees in his various orchards just to have something more interesting to look at.

Thanks for this thread, Connie.

Have a great weekend.