George Antheil (1900-1959)

Nationality: American

Born: July 8, 1900, Trenton, NJ Died: February 12, 1959, New York (age 58)

wikipedia

Violin Sonata No. 4

(for violin and piano)

		I.	Scherzo. Allegro giocoso
		II.	Passacaglia Variations. Larghetto
		III.	Toccata-Rondo. Allegro comodo

Composed: 1947-1948 (age 46-48)

Related Composers

Ernest Bloch (1880-1959)

Teacher

Nationality: Swiss | American

Born: July 24, 1880, Geneva Died: July 15, 1959, Portland, OR (age 79)

glossary

allegro [I]—fast, lively tempo. From the Italian word for cheerful or gay.
chamber music, Kammermusik [G], musique de chambre [F], musica da camera [I], musica cameralis [L]—"Classical Music" for a small ensemble, generally 8 or fewer players with a canonical emphasis on 3-6 players. explore
comodo [I], commodo—comfortable, unhurried, easy
duo, duet, dueto [S], duetto [I], duett [G]—a work for two instruments; the ensemble itself
giocoso, giocando, con gioco, giojoso—humorous, jocose, merry joking
larghetto—slow, but a bit faster than largo
passacaglia, passacaille [F], pasacalle [S]—A variation form based on a recurring bass line or chord progression closely related to the chaconne. Of Spanish origin first appearing in the early 17th century. Some generalizations suggest a grave character, a minor key and a triple meter. wiki
rondo—sectional movement form featuring a recurring refrain between contrasting episodes in a variety of plans, a typical one being ABACABA (A is the refrain; B and C are episodes). Often used for finales.
scherzo—lively, brisk, typically in a triple meter; usually a three-part form with central, contrasting trio
sonata, sonate, suonato—a complicated term. Originally, "sounded" rather than "sung" (sonar vs. cantar), e.g. instrumental music. According to historical period, sonata began to imply a formal plan of movements as well as the structure within a single movement, e.g. sonata form. In general usage as a work title, it designates a multi-movement piece for solo or duo instruments with one of the instruments enjoying a feature role.
tema con variazioni, con variazioni, Tema e variazioni, theme and variations, Thema mit Variationen [G], Thème varié [F]—a common movement form featuring an initial theme followed by a series of variations on that theme, each of which adjusts any number of parameters to achieve variety, e.g. tempo, rhythm, key, instrumentation, etc.A challenge to the composers ingenuity and a delight for the listener
toccata [I]—from toccare, to touch: traditionally a virtuosic piece for keyboard, often a prelude to something such as a fugue
variation, variazione, variatio, variato, variata—a modified re-iteration of a previous theme, reprise, couplet, etc. The music is varied, embellished or creatively transformed for variety while maintaining a unity relationship with the original. See "Theme and Variations."