REPRINT SERIES
Alan Rawsthorne’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F♯ minor was composed in 1951 on commission from the Arts Council of Great Britain for the Festival of Britain and received its first performance on 17 June 1951 with Clifford Curzon as soloist and Malcolm Sargent conducting.
The concerto is cast in four movements played without pause:
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Allegro piacevole – introduces the main theme in the flute against a piano accompaniment that shifts between major and minor.
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Allegro molto – a scherzo-like movement in rondo form with rapid piano figurations.
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Adagio semplice – a song‑like slow movement featuring lyrical interplay between soloist and orchestra.
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Allegro – a vigorous finale that combines earlier motifs in a spirited, virtuosic conclusion.
Running approximately 27 minutes in performance, the work balances neoclassical clarity and modal inflections with moments of Romantic lyricism. Its transparent orchestration—standard woodwinds, brass, timpani, and strings—allows the piano’s intricate passagework to shine, while the unified thematic material and precise motivic development reflect Rawsthorne’s mature orchestral voice.
- Instrumentation:
- 2Fl 1dPicc, 2Ob, 2Cl, 2Bsn, 4Hn, 2Tpt, 3Tbn, Timp, Perc(2), Solo Piano, Strings
- Duration:
- 27 minutes
- Set of Parts:
- Includes Strings count 4.4.3.3.2, Piano in Full Score. Solo Piano reduction available on request.
- Extra Strings:
- Only available with the purchase of the Set of Parts
- Product Type:
- REPRINT SERIES
