(Continued)
DVORAK'S 'Cello Concerto is one of his best works, and one of the best existing works for the instrument. It is written in three separate Movements, and scored for a fairly large Orchestra.
FIRST MOVEMENT (Quick).—The First Main
Tune is given, without preliminary, by Clarinets in their low, reedy register, joined at the third bar by Bassoons an octave lower.
This tune is really a ' motto ' Theme, dominating this Movement and recurring in the last one.
SECOND MOVEMENT (Not too slow).—The chief substance of this Movement consists in expressive, lyrical and decorative work for the soloist. The chief Tune opens in the Clarinet. The Solo Violoncello enters after the first phrase.
THIRD MOVEMENT (Moderately quick).-
Dvorak's instinct for musical colour led him to open the Main Tune, at the start of the Finale, with Horns ; indeed, the very nature of the Tune is obviously that of a Horn-call.
There are many other tunes introduced in this
Movement, but that is the one that should stick in one's mind, together with the ' motto' theme from the First Movement, softly referred to in the Finale.