This program is presented to fulfill the senior recital requirement for the Bachelor of Music degree in Performance
Jessie Montgomery (b. 1981)
Vanessa Cruz is from the studio of Liesl Schoenberger Doty
PROGRAM NOTES
Violin Sonata No.1 in G minor (1720)
J.S. Bach
Bach's first sonata for solo violin is a piece that carries a serious tone without being overly solemn. The sonata's timbre is emphasized by Bach's choice of key, G minor, which benefits from the warm resonance of the violin's lower strings, G and D. These open strings are used as pedal tones, providing a solid foundation for the harmonies throughoutthepiece.The fourthmovementofBach’sViolinSonataNo.1inGminor, Presto, is a showcase of perpetual-motion, and a Baroque essay in violin that remains as compelling today as it was in 1720. With its stream of rapid notes and intricate passagework, this movement exemplifies Bach’s mastery of solo violin writing.
Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 (1878)
Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky
In early 1878, Tchaikovsky’s patron, Nadezhda von Meck, funded a trip outside Russia to help him recover from the emotional turmoil of his failed marriage and suicide attempt. He traveled to Clarens, Switzerland, with violinist Josef Kotek, a close companion and likely romantic interest, where they immersed themselves in violin music, including Edouard Lalo’s Symphonie espagnole. Inspired by Lalo’s work, Tchaikovsky began his Violin Concerto on March 17th and completed it in just two weeks, unaware that it would become one of his most controversial, and later loved, compositions.
Theconcerto wasinitiallyrejected violinistLeopoldAuerrefusedtoplayit,calling it “unviolinistic,” and critic Eduard Hanslick condemned it as crude. Tchaikovsky, deeply affected, carried the review for months. Despite this, violinist Adolf Brodsky premiered it in 1881, and it later became one of the most cherished and demanding violin works.
The first movement introduces two lyrically expressive themes, both tailored to the violin’s natural voice rather than conventional contrast.Afiery cadenza and dramatic conclusion elevate its virtuosity. The second movement, Canzonetta, is a simple yet poignantsong,introducedwithaquietanddelicateatmospherebeforetheviolintakes up its plaintive melody.
PROGRAM NOTES
Libertango Astor Piazzolla
Composed in 1974, Libertango marked Piazzolla’s full embrace of nuevo tango, blending complex harmonies, extended forms, and improvisation. Its title combining libertad (freedom) and tango symbolizes Piazzola’s break from tradition. Shifting from Buenos Aires dance halls, the piece exudes bold, rhythmic intensity,drivenbysyncopationanddynamicshifts.Originallyscoredforbandoneón, piano, violin, electric guitar, and double bass, Libertango has been widely arranged, showcasing its versatility and enduring impact as a symbol of artistic freedom and innovation.
Mercy
Max Richter
Composed as a response to the humanitarian crises surrounding Guantanamo Prison, Max Richter’s Mercy is a deeply evocative work that speaks to themes of compassion, justice, and the universal longing for peace. Originally written as a standalone piece, Mercy later became the foundation for Richter’s album Voices, a project centered around the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“Mercy is scored for violin solo and piano and was the first piece I wrote for the album (“Voices”). The title comes from Portia’s speech in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice: ‘The quality of mercy is not strained.’ It’s a wonderful speech, all about forgiveness. But it’s about rights, too if you cut me, do I not bleed? The message is that all people are the same.”
Max Richter
Rhapsody No.1 for solo violin
Jessie Montgomery
"Rhapsody No. 1 is the first solo violin piece I wrote for myself. It draws on inspiration from the Eugène Ysaÿe solo violin works and is intended to serve as both an etude and a stand-alone work. This piece is intended to be part of a set of 6 solo violin works, each of which will be dedicated to a different contemporary violinist, and inspired by an historical composer.”
