Ina Boyle : Violin Concerto (1935)

Ina Boyle

(8 March 1889 – 10 March 1967)

was an Irish composer: the most prolific and significant female composer from Ireland before 1950.

 

Violin Concerto (1935)

I. Lento, ma non troppo 0:00​ II. Adagio 7:10​ III. Allegro, ma non troppo 11:45​

Catherine Leonard, violin, The Ulster Orchestra Kenneth Montgomery, conductor

 

The Violin Concerto is in 3 movements, played without pause. Although it begins and ends with an A Major chord, there are very free tonal relationships throughout the work. The concerto was dedicated to the memory of the composer's mother, and is based on a Christmas carol composed by the composer for her mother, to words by Pamela Gray of Fallodon. The carol, "All Souls Flower", is alluded to at the very start of the concerto, with the first 5 notes forming the basis of the opening movement. In its original form, it appears in the finale, where it begins in the winds at 12:31​. The full text is in the comments.