《La capricieuse, op.17》

Edward Elgar (1857-1934)

Edward Elgar was a British composer. He was knighted by King Edward VII. His short pieces are very well-liked by people and have the characteristic of remaining popular for an extended period of time. La capricieuse was written at the end of 1891 when he bought a violin in London made by Nicola Gagliano (fl. c. 1740-c. 1780) . The piece is also his only solo violin piece ever published. Although initially composed for students as a practice piece, it is more appropriate to consider it as a piece for trying out an instrument or for an audition. The music displays all of the violin’s functions in full, as well as displaying a perfect interaction between the violin and piano. A detaché bowing is used at the beginning and end of the piece. Its abundant sense of rhythm and capricious melody hint at the title of piece, referring to an unrestrained wildness. The form of this short piece is ABA. The B section differs from the A section, displaying lyrical, gentle feelings, and also adding double-stops, creating a contrast between the personalities of the A and B sections. A violin made by the British luthier E. Pomphilon in 1668 is used for this recording.