In the orchestra, as in the movies, there are stars and there are supporting players.
But every so often there’s a breakout role for an instrument that’s most often relegated to the background. And sometimes, a showpiece for an instrument that’s not part of the standard concert hall line-up to begin with.
Just consider the challenge of writing a concerto for the mandolin, tuba, saxophone, harmonica—or the 12-foot-long Swiss alphorn.
In this hour, we’ll hear how it’s done—and done amazingly well—by Vivaldi, Mozart, Villa-Lobos, Haydn, Vaughan Williams—and more.
FEATURED RECORDINGS
| Title |
Group/Artist |
Catalog # |
UPC |
| Glass Music [for Mozart’s Adagio and Rondo in C minor] |
Dennis James, soloist (glass armonica), Salzburger Solonisten |
Syrinx Records CSR 91101 |
5411807911010 |
| Vivaldi: Concerti Con Molti Strumenti [for Mandolin Concerto] |
Giovanni Scaramuzzino. Europa Galante |
Virgin Veritas 5455272 |
724354552724 |
| Vivaldi: Concerti per Mandoline [for Concerto in G For 2 Mandolins] |
Ugo Orlando & Dorina Frati, I Solisti Veneti, Claudio Scimone |
Erato 2292-45203-2 |
022924520327 |
| Andre Previn Conducts Vaughan Williams [for Tuba Concerto] |
John Fletcher, soloist. London Symphony Orchestra, Andre Previn |
RCA Red Seal 88875126952 |
0888751269521 |
| In Praise of the Alphorn [for Leopold Mozart’s Sinfonia Pastorella for Alphorn] |
Jozef Brejza, soloist, Camerata Bern |
Claves CD 50-500 |
7619931050027 |
| Villa-Lobos: Work for Harmonica, track 2 |
Robert Bonfiglio, soloist; New York Chamber Symphony, Gerard Schwarz. |
Naxos 9.70275 |
73009972751 |
| Dittersorf-Vanhal Double Bass Concertos [for Dittersdorf Double Bass Concerto No. 2 in D major] |
Chi-Chi Nwanoku; Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Paul Goodwin, |
Hyperion CDA67179 |
CDA67179 |
| Virtuoso Timpani Concertos [for Concerto for Tympani and Orchestra by Georg Druschetzky] |
Alexander Peter, soloist and conductor, Dresden Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra |
Naxos 8.557610 |
747313261024 |
| Hovhaness: Symphony No. 48, etc. [for Soprano Saxophone Concerto] |
Greg Banaszak soloist, Eastern Music Festival Orchestra, Gerard Schwarz |
Naxos 8.559755 |
636943975527 |
| Trombone Concerti: [for Michael Haydn’s Concerto in D Major for Trombone and Orchestra] |
Alain Trudel, soloist & conductor, Northern Sinfonia |
Naxos 8.553831 |
730099483124 |
| Milhaud: Concerto for Marimba and Vibraphone |
Peter Sadlo, soloist, Munich Philharmonic, Sergiu Celibidache |
EMI Classics 5 57856 2 |
724355785626 |
