Handel-Halvorsen "Impossible Duet" Passacaglia

Michael de Jesus, violin.
Paul Fleury, cello.

Encore to a particularly demanding recital of Dohnanyi Serenade, Op. 10, Mozart Divertimento in E-Flat, Schubert C minor Quintet.....little...tired....must....sleep.

Passacaglia (Duo for Violin and Viola, after Handel), 1894

Halvorsen was a Norwegian violinist, composer and conductor. He studied at the Stockholm Conservatory, as well as in Leipzig, Berlin and Leige. He was appointed conductor of the theatre in Bergen in 1892, and served as conductor of the Christiania National Theatre from 1899-1929, where he directed over 25 operas as well as orchestral concerts.

Halvorsen's compositions developed from the national romantic tradition of Grieg and Svendson but in a distinctive style marked by brilliant orchestration.

To judge by the Schwann catalog of Classical Music, Halvorsen's compositions are now enjoying a revival in his homeland. Previously his fame rested on two works, arrangements of movements from the harpsichord suites of George Friedrich Handel (1685-1759). Handel composed 12 suites for harpsichord. The Passacaglia is taken from Suite #7 in G Minor where it serves as the sixth movement. This work is very demanding on the performers; part of its virtuosity entails having the two instruments simulate the sonority of a string quartet, through the use of double stops (the playing of two or more tones simultaneously on the violin and related string instruments).

The Passacaglia is a form of baroque music said to derive from a Spanish dance. It unfolds as a continuous theme, usually in moderately slow triple meter, with a slow harmonic rhythm changing generally with the measure.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• impossible
• cello
• violin

[baroquenviolin]

The cellist did a good job. The violinist held it together after those first couple of raunchy chords in the beginning.

[Cellopro]

@baroquenviolin It can be hard switching from viola to violin at the end of a recital with no break. All in all wasn't a bad performance, Not perfect from either side, this was done as a fundraiser for a local orchestra that was struggling. Very little time for rehearsal. We have more planned, I will be posting the videos here for dissection as usual. Thanks for all the comments guys and critcal analysis.

[Cellopro]

Translation: My goodness ... how rude and insensitive, you can only deal with music?

[pyroc8]

Lol that's my math teacher

[bgarri57]

Great job! I love this music!

[TheFreesteeze]

this is cringeworthy

[Flashmilkis]

omg

this

is

terrible

why is it so slow

[Flashmilkis]

omg

this

is

terrible