MacMillan, James: Violin Concerto

The first movement begins with a short, punchy motive, which kicks off a fast, jerky solo violin theme. This is followed by a high, floating singing line, with murmuring accompaniment.The second movement begins with a simple, expressive melody in the accompaniment. Whilst the violin takes up the melody, a series of simple chords emerges. After a succession of episodes the music takes an unexpected shift, with a hazy remembered amalgam of old Irish tunes evoking the memory of childhood.The third movement combines the two concepts of the earlier movements – song and dance – and adds a new feeling of burlesque, and some spoken material (in German). Increased vigour and a growing sense of abandon follow, and after a lyrical waltz the music draws to a close with a tragic outburst, an unaccompanied cadenza, and a brief codetta.The work is dedicated to Vadim Repin and in memoriam Ellen MacMillan (1935–2008).