Editing Violin Concerto (Adams)

{{About|the violin concerto|Peter Martins' 1994 ballet to this music|Adams Violin Concerto}}
{{Infobox musical composition
| name                = Violin Concerto
| composer            = [[John Adams (composer)|John Adams]]
| image               =JA-portrait-1-LW.jpg 
| alt                 = 
| caption             =Portrait of John Adams 
| translation         = 
| key                 = 
| catalogue           = 
| opus                = 
| genre               = [[Minimal music|Minimalism]]
| form                = [[Violin Concerto]]
| melody              = 
| client              = [[New York City Ballet]]
| occasion            = 
| composed            = {{Start date|1993}}
|dedication=David Huntley| performed           = 
| published           = <!-- {{Timeline-event|date={{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD|df=y}}|location=}} -->
|duration=about 35 minutes| movements           = Three
| scoring             = 
|premiere_date={{Start date|1994|01|19}}|premiere_conductor=[[Edo de Waart]]|premiere_location=[[Ordway Music Theater]], [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]]|premiere_performers=[[Jorja Fleezanis]] (violin)
[[Minnesota Orchestra]]| misc                = 
}}
The '''Violin Concerto''' by the American [[composer]] [[John Adams (composer)|John Adams]] was written in 1993. Its premiere was on January 19, 1994, by [[Jorja Fleezanis]] with the [[Minnesota Orchestra]], conducted by [[Edo de Waart]], at the [[Ordway Music Theater]], [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]].<ref name="Grawemeyer">{{cite web |title=1995 – John Adams |url=http://grawemeyer.org/1995-john-adams/ |website=Grawemeyer Awards |access-date=24 May 2019 |date=20 July 1995}}</ref><ref name="BH">{{cite web |title=John Adams - Violin Concerto |url=https://www.boosey.com/cr/music/John-Adams-Violin-Concerto/7355 |publisher=[[Boosey & Hawkes]] |access-date=24 May 2019}}</ref>

The piece was co-commissioned by the [[New York City Ballet]], leading to a strong sense of rhythm throughout the entire work. For it, Adams received the [[University of Louisville]] [[Grawemeyer Award (Music Composition)|Grawemeyer Award]] for Music Composition.<ref name="Grawemeyer" />

A typical performance lasts around 35 minutes.<ref name="AtP-VC">{{cite web |last1=Adams |first1=John |title=About the Piece - Violin Concerto |url=https://www.laphil.com/philpedia/music/violin-concerto-john-adams |publisher=Los Angeles Philharmonic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124075502/https://www.laphil.com/philpedia/music/violin-concerto-john-adams |archive-date=24 January 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Violin Concerto has been described as "the most original approach to the genre since the [[Violin Concerto (Berg)|Alban Berg Concerto]]".<ref>Christopher Latham, review of recording by [[Chloë Hanslip]], Limelight, January 2007, p. 47</ref>

==Structure==
The work is in three movements:

{{Ordered list|type=upper-roman
| <nowiki>Quarter note = 78</nowiki><ref>sometimes written "♩ = 78", "I. = 78" or "Crotchet = 78"</ref>
| [[Chaconne]]: ''Body through which the dream flows''
| [[Toccata|Toccare]]
}}

It is dedicated to the memory of David Huntley of [[Boosey & Hawkes]].<ref name="AtP-VC" />

== Instrumentation ==
The work calls for solo [[violin]] accompanied by an [[orchestra]] with the following instrumentation.

{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
;[[Woodwind instrument|Woodwinds]]
: 2 [[Western concert flute|flute]]s (both doubling [[piccolos]])
: 2 [[oboe]]s (2nd doubling [[cor anglais]])
: 2 [[clarinet]]s (2nd doubling [[bass clarinet]])
: 2 [[bassoon]]s

;[[Brass instrument|Brass]]
: 2 [[French horn|horns]] in F
: [[trumpet]] in C

{{col-3}}

;[[Percussion instrument|Percussion]]
: 2 players, doubling on
: [[timpani]]
: [[guiro]]
: 3 [[bongo drum]]s
: 2 [[conga drums]]
: [[bass drum]]
: [[suspended cymbal]]
: [[tambourine]]
: [[claves]]
: high [[cowbell (instrument)|cowbell]]
: [[vibraphone]]
: [[marimba]]
: [[tubular bells]]

{{col-3}}

;[[Keyboard instrument|Keyboards]]
: 2 [[synthesizer]]s<ref>Technical requirements for the synthesizers available [https://mhgrey.wordpress.com/category/john-adams/violin-concerto-tech/ here]</ref>

;[[string instrument|Strings]]
: violin I (minimum 6)
: violin II (minimum 6)
: [[viola]]s (minimum 5)
: [[cello]]s (minimum 5)
: [[double bass]]es (minimum 2)
{{col-end}}

== Recordings ==

The first recording was with the [[London Symphony Orchestra]], featuring soloist [[Gidon Kremer]],<ref name="AtP-VC" /> and conducted by [[Kent Nagano]], released as Nonesuch 79360–2.<ref name="Schwartz">{{cite web |last1=Schwartz |first1=Steve |title=Classical Net Review - Adams - Violin Concerto, Shaker Loops |url=http://www.classical.net/music/recs/reviews/n/non79360a.php |website=Classical Net |access-date=24 May 2019 |date=1998}}</ref>

In 2017 Orchid Classics released a recording (coupled with the [[Violin Concerto (Korngold)|Korngold violin concerto]]), with soloist [[Ilya Gringolts]] and the [[Copenhagen Philharmonic]] conducted by [[Santtu-Matias Rouvali]], reference ORC100066.<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.orchidclassics.com/releases/orc100066-korngold-adams-violin-concerto/
| title = On-line catalogue entry Korngold/Adams Violin Concertos
| publisher = Orchid Classics
| accessdate = 4 April 2022}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20130617035442/http://www.earbox.com:80/inter004.html John Adams on his Violin Concerto]'' Interview from [[Perspectives of New Music]]
* {{cite web|url=http://aliomodo.blogspot.com/2010/08/john-adams-violin-concerto.html |title=John Adams - Violin Concerto (Compilation of reviews) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421221734/http://aliomodo.blogspot.com/2010/08/john-adams-violin-concerto.html| date=2010-08-20 |archive-date=2011-04-21 |publisher=Alio Modo Blog}}
* [https://mhgrey.wordpress.com/category/john-adams/violin-concerto-tech/ Violin Concerto Tech Specs] by [[Mark Grey]], sound designer for John Adams

{{John Adams (composer)}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Concertos by John Adams (composer)]]
[[Category:Violin concertos|Adams, John]]
[[Category:1993 compositions]]