SKU: A0.810983

This fine work has sat dormant for many years and has now come to light thanks to the efforts of Charlie Vernon, Bass Trombonist of the Chicago Symphony, who performed this virtuoso work as a young performer.

The concerto is in the standard three movement form: Fast, slow, fast.

This publication is a reduction from the original orchestral version (to be released at some point in the future).

Here is a description of the Concerto by the composer, John W. Ware.

I started on the trombone concerto in my junior year studying composition at Indiana University.  While working on it, I learned of an opportunity to make it sort of a thesis piece (though students didn't write a thesis in composition while an undergrad).  The original version was for trombone with string orchestra, and it was performed by the IU String Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Arthur Corra, with Robert Priez, trombone, as part of my senior composition recital.  I thought the performance was quite good (Priez played extraordinarily well), and the piece received a newspaper review in the Indiana Daily Student, in which the reviewer wrote that the work was almost too exciting.  I thought at the time that he had given me and my music a fine compliment.  I made a piano version of the accompaniment, shortening and tightening the first movement, for performances in 1966; I made a second revision in 1967 for a performance by E. J. Eaton, trombonist at the University of Tennessee at Martin, arriving at the form in which the work exists now.

The first movement is in fairly normal sonata-allegro form, in the key of A minor.  It alternates between assertive and more thoughtful moods.   There is no introduction; the soloist enters immediately and dominates much of the movement. The main theme is--by some manipulation--a source for most of the other themes, and all of the themes are used in close proximity to each other, including contrapuntal combinations, especially near the end.  Originally the movement included a lengthy fugato, now much shortened and including a stretto that builds and subsides before a cadenza leading to a coda based on both the principal and secondary themes.  Key relations in this movement, as in the other two, are quite free and often chromatic, with frequent third-relations; but returns to the tonic at the end are emphatic.  The writing is challenging for both soloist and accompanist; the piece is substantial, requiring technique and stamina.

The second movement is in F minor and is also built on both contrast and close relationships between the main and secondary themes.  The main theme is heard in the piano part before the soloist enters.  The mood is more lyric than in the first movement, but with dramatic episodes also.  In this movement are some definite derivations from themes in the first movement.  The ending is a sort of lengthened shadow of the opening.

The finale returns to A minor, with themes slightly related to polonaise rhythms, but with strong echoes of first-movement themes.  Here, too, dramatic and lyric episodes alternate, with dotted rhythms frequently propelling the music forward.  The introduction is a brief and simple preparation for the solo entry.  Later in the movement, a very brief, slightly slower section is soon overtaken by the original tempo.  Toward the end, there is a second cadenza, again leading to a swift and energetic coda.

The work is about 20 minutes in length and is appropriate for advanced performers.

SKU: ZZ.DZ-4287

ISBN 9782898522048.

Antônio Francisco Braga (1868-1945) belongs to the generation of Brazilian composers of the first republican period, aesthetically tied to romanticism, alongside Henrique Oswald (1852-1931), Leopoldo Miguez (1850-1902), Glauco Velásquez (1884-1914), and Barrozo Neto (1881-1941). Born in Rio de Janeiro, on April 15th, 1868, he began his musical studies at the Asilo dos Meninos Desvalidos, in 1876. In 1883, he enrolled at the Imperial Conservatório de Música where he studied harmony and counterpoint with Carlos de Mesquita – a former student of César Franck, Durand, and Massenet – and clarinet with Antônio Luís de Moura. Braga's first compositions date from this period: Sonho de Dante (1885), Dolce far niente (1886), the first Valse Romantique for piano (1886), among others.
In 1887, he premiered his first symphonic work, Fantasia-Abertura. In 1890, being one of the finalists in a competition to choose the new Brazilian national anthem, Braga was awarded a scholarship to study in Europe, where he took classes with Jules Massenet at the Paris Conservatory. During this period, he wrote some of his most important symphonic works, Paysage, Cauchemar, Episódio Sinfônico, and Marabá (which was performed by Richard Strauss and the Vienna Philharmonic in 1920, in Brazil). His opera Jupyra is considered one of the greatest Brazilian compositions of that genre.
Back in Brazil, he was appointed professor of counterpoint, fugue, and composition at the Instituto Nacional de Música, in 1902. There, some of the finest Brazilian composers studied with him, like Glauco Velásquez and Lorenzo Fernândez.
Braga wrote operas, symphonic works, songs, sacred music, two Masses, music for piano, different chamber formations, band, and choir. He is the author of many patriotic hymns, the most popular of which is Hino à Bandeira (with lyrics by Olavo Bilac). He explored Brazilian nationalist elements in some of his works, as in Variações sobre um Tema Brasileiro and in the Trio for violin, cello and piano, whose third movement is based on a lundu (a musical genre and dance of Afro-Brazilian origin).
In addition to being a composer, Braga was one of the most active conductors of his time, having been ahead of three orchestras in Rio de Janeiro: Instituto Nacional de Música, Sociedade de Concertos Sinfônicos, and Theatro Municipal. Braga conducted the Brazilian premiere of major symphonic works such as La Mer (Debussy), Pacific 231 (Honegger) besides other numerous Brazilian compositions.
In 1938, he retired from Instituto Nacional de Música. He passed away on March 14th, 1945, in Rio de Janeiro.
Unfortunately, Francisco Braga never wrote for the guitar. However, over a century ago his music had already been incorporated to its repertoire. According to information found in newspapers of the time, Spanish guitarist Josefina Robledo included transcriptions of pieces by Braga in her programs when she performed in Brazil: Gavota e Minuete (from the melodrama Contratador de Diamantes), in 1919, in São Paulo, and the waltz-caprice Corrupio, in 1921, in Rio de Janeiro.
The piano score of Madrigal Pavane was dedicated to Alexina Leitão and published by Casa Vieira Machado, in 1901. According to the composer’s catalogue, there are two other versions of this piece: strings orchestra (1901) and quartet (which is still in manuscript). Dedicated to Braga’s childhood friend José de Souza Rocha, Timburibá (the name of a Brazilian tree) is a tango for piano from 1886, published by Narciso & Arthur Napoleão.

Antônio Francisco Braga (1868-1945) appartient à la génération des compositeurs brésiliens de la première période républicaine, esthétiquement liés au romantisme, aux côtés de Henrique Oswald (1852-1931), Leopoldo Miguez (1850-1902), Glauco Velásquez (1884-1914) , et Barrozo Neto (1881-1941). Né à Rio de Janeiro, le 15 avril 1868, il commence ses études musicales à l'Asilo dos Meninos Desvalidos, en 1876. En 1883, il s'inscrit au Imperial Conservatório de Música où il étudie l'harmonie et le contrepoint avec Carlos de Mesquita – ancien élève de César Franck, Durand et Massenet – et clarinette avec Antônio Luís de Moura. De cette période datent les premières compositions de Braga : « Sonho de Dante » (1885), « Dolce far niente » (1886), la première « Valse Romantique » pour piano (1886), entre autres.
En 1887, il crée sa première œuvre symphonique, « Fantasia-Abertura ». En 1890, étant l'un des finalistes d'un concours pour choisir le nouvel hymne national brésilien, Braga obtient une bourse pour étudier en Europe, où il suit les cours de Jules Massenet au Conservatoire de Paris. Durant cette période, il écrit certaines de ses œuvres symphoniques les plus importantes, « Paysage », « Cauchemar », « Episódio Sinfônico » et « Marabá » (interprétée par Richard Strauss et la Philharmonie de Vienne en 1920, au Brésil). Son opéra « Jupyra » est considéré comme l'une des plus grandes compositions brésiliennes de ce genre.
De retour au Brésil, il fut nommé professeur de contrepoint, de fugue et de composition à l'Instituto Nacional de Música, en 1902. Là, certains des meilleurs compositeurs brésiliens étudièrent avec lui, comme Glauco Velásquez et Lorenzo Fernândez.
Braga a écrit des opéras, des œuvres symphoniques, des chansons, de la musique sacrée, deux messes, de la musique pour piano, différentes formations de chambre, un orchestre et une chorale. Il est l'auteur de nombreux hymnes patriotiques, dont le plus populaire est « Hino à Bandeira » (avec des paroles d'Olavo Bilac). Il a exploré des éléments nationalistes brésiliens dans certaines de ses œuvres, comme dans « Variações sobre um Tema Brasileiro » et dans le Trio pour violon, violoncelle et piano, dont le troisième mouvement est basé sur un « lundu » (un genre musical et une danse afro-américaine). Origine brésilienne).
En plus d'être compositeur, Braga a été l'un des chefs d'orchestre les plus actifs de son époque, ayant dirigé trois orchestres à Rio de Janeiro : « Instituto Nacional de Música », « Sociedade de Concertos Sinfônicos » et « Theatro Municipal ». Braga a dirigé la première brésilienne d'œuvres symphoniques majeures telles que « La Mer » (Debussy), « Pacific 231 » (Honegger) ainsi que de nombreuses autres compositions brésiliennes.
En 1938, il prend sa retraite de l'Instituto Nacional de Música. Il est décédé le 14 mars 1945 à Rio de Janeiro.
Malheureusement, Francisco Braga n’a jamais écrit pour la guitare. Cependant, il y a plus d'un siècle, sa musique était déjà incorporée à son répertoire. Selon des informations trouvées dans les journaux de l'époque, la guitariste espagnole Josefina Robledo incluait des transcriptions de pièces de Braga dans ses programmes lorsqu'elle se produisait au Brésil : « Gavota e Minuete » (du mélodrame « Contratador de Diamantes »), en 1919, à São Paulo, et la valse-caprice « Corrupio », en 1921, à Rio de Janeiro.
La partition pour piano de « Madrigal Pavane » a été dédiée à Alexina Leitão et publiée par « Casa Vieira Machado », en 1901. Selon le catalogue du compositeur, il existe deux autres versions de cette pièce : orchestre à cordes (1901) et quatuor (qui est encore manuscrit). Dédié à José de Souza Rocha, ami d'enfance de Braga, « Timburibá » (nom d'un arbre brésilien) est un tango pour piano de 1886, publié par « Narciso & Arthur Napoleão ».
Envoyer des commentaires
Panneaux latéraux
Historique
Enregistrées.