- Csárdás (Monti)
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The first 13 bars of Vittorio Monti's Csárdás
Csárdás (or Czardas) is perhaps the most famous composition of Vittorio Monti. A rhapsodical concert piece written in 1904, it is a well-known folk piece based on a Hungarian csárdás.[1] It was originally composed for violin, mandolin or piano.[2] Nowadays, it is usually played on the violin, but can also be played as a piano solo, saxophone solo, on the accordion, as an orchestral arrangement, or Tuba solo. The duration of the piece is about four and a half minutes.[2]
Contents
Structure
The piece has seven different sections, each one of a different tempo and occasionally key. The first half of the piece is in D minor, then modulates to D major, back to D minor, and then finally finishes in D major. The first section is Andante Largo, followed by a large increase in speed to Allegro Vivo. This then slows down to Molto Meno. The piece then slows down more to Meno, Quasi Lento. The piece then suddenly picks up in pace and is at Allegro Vivace. It then slows down to Allegretto and finally to Molto Più Vivo. The tempo changes make the piece exciting and interesting, but even with all of these tempo changes, it is generally expected that there should be some rubato to add feeling to the piece.[3] There are also many different dynamic changes in the piece, ranging from pianissimo to fortissimo.
In the Meno, Quasi Lento section, the violin plays stopped harmonics. This involves the violinist placing their finger down on the note and playing another note, with the finger only just touching the string 5 semitones above. This gives the effect of the violin sounding two octaves (24 semitones) higher.
Adaptations
Lady Gaga uses this song as part of her background music in the song "Alejandro".
Louie C.K. used this song as part of the introduction to the Season 02, Episode 06 "Subway/Pamela" on his show "Louie".
The theme is also prominently featured in Awaara, a 1951 Bollywood movie.
It was a featured piece involving dueling violins in Unfaithfully Yours (1984 film)
Recordings
The following albums have this piece included in their repertoire:[2]
Title Record Label Recording Date Gypsy Fire/Tzigane - Esin Engin Orchestra EMI 1990 All Of The World's Most Beautiful Melodies Chandos 1995 Angelic Winters Concas-Mondragon 2002 Best Encores 100 EMI Classics 2009 Clarinet Evergreens Naxos 1997 Classical 2008 EMI Classics 2007 Dances of the World CD Accord 2001 Expressions: The Heart of the Tuba MSR Classics 2005 Fantaisies Classiques Atma Classique 1993 Favourite Flavours Linus 2005 Hungarian Dances Onyx 2008 Key to the Classics Daisy Jopling and Bojan Dugic 2008 Lakatos: King of the Gypsy Violins Capriccio 1999 Music by Monti, Fauré, Ravel, Gershwin et al. Somm 2007 Once Upon A Time [DVD Video] Analekta Polish Spirit [DVD Video] EMI 2007 Portrait of an Artist: Arnold Jacobs Summit 2000 Romance & Passion Thorofon 2001 Salon Music at Schumann's Bar Edel 2005 Salut Salon! Was kann das Herz dafur Warner Bros. Records Saxomania ASV 1997 Sommerkonzerte Zwischen Donau und Altmühl: Edition '97 Audi 1997 Spanish Guitar Classics, Volume 2 St. Clair 1999 The Budapest Gypsy Orchestra Ode The Instruments of the Orchestra [Box Set] Naxos 2002 The North Brass Opening Day 1998 The Schiller Family in Concert The Schiller Family 2007 The World's Most Beautiful Melodies, Vol. 5 Chandos 1994 Tracked Quartz 2005 Trio Sonata Concert Gallo 1993 Vengerov and Virtuosi EMI 2001 Vienna Nights Premium Music 1998 Virtuoso Decca 2007 Walking in the Air ASV 1992 Yehudi Menuhin's Young Virtuosi Classic FM 1998 Young Berlin Classics PricewaterhouseCoopers 2007 Published scores
- Monti: Czardas per violino e pianoforte. Z. 13 700 (Editio Musica Budapest).
- The Celebrated Czardas by V. Monti F 102595 F (G. Ricordi & Co., London Limited)
References
External links
- CZARDAS for Violin arranged by alberto carcano
- Csárdás: Free scores at the International Music Score Library Project.
- Free sheet music of Csárdás from Cantorion.org
- Csárdás for Violin and Piano on www.kreusch-sheet-music.net
- Csárdás - Cello Solo performed by Trey Lee Chui-yee(Youku video)
- Csárdás – Piano Transcription performed by Geoffrey Storm (Youtube)
- Performed by Sophie Langdon, violin and Christopher Green-Armytage, piano, Philadelphia, 1979
- Csárdás – Solo piano arrangement by Alexander Zlatkovski (Youtube)
Categories:- Compositions by Vittorio Monti
- 1904 compositions
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