Concerto No.2 For Cello And Orchestra

This is one of the best Cello concertos of the twentieth century, and readily communicates the Bohuslav Martinu strong feelings for his homeland. Written over the Christmas and New year period of 1944-45 in New York, it is fullofhis reactions to that last dramatic winter of the war and the desire to go home.

It is an expansive work, over 35 minutes in length, in the standard three movements. Typically for Martinu, the first movement isinModerato tempo. The opening gesture is highly characteristic: A pulsing rhythm establishes itself in the orchestra and a striving, rising theme with a contradictory rhythm contends with it. The second movement, Andantepocomoderato, has a general pulse that is not much slower than that of the first. It is episodic, with a faster central section and then a truly magical and heartfelt treatment of the main subject, in which Martinu expresseshislonging for home. The final movement, Allegro, is a driving, energetic conclusion with a solo cadenza that breaks the ongoing rhythm and provides a touching moment of contemplation before the joyous conclusion. Thiseditioncontains a Piano reduction of the Orchestral part for rehearsal purposes.