Franz Joseph Clement - Violin Concerto in D major/ No. 2 in D minor

Franz Joseph Clement 

(November 17 or 18?, 1780 – November 3, 1842),[1] was an Austrian violinist, pianist, composer, conductor of Vienna's Theater an der Wien, and a friend of Ludwig van Beethoven.

 

 

Violin Concerto in D major

Rachel Barton Pine – violin, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Jose Serebrier – conductor (Cedille Records, 2008) Cadenza by Rachel Barton Pine (there are no surviving cadenza)

I. Allegro maestoso – 00:00​ II. Adagio – 16:08​ III. Rondo: Allegro – 28:54

 

Clement also showed his appreciation in his compositions: his D major Violin Concerto owes much to the example of Beethoven's piano concertos in its musical language and structure. Clement's concerto may be seen, therefore, as a testimony to his admiration for Beethoven, and Beethoven's Violin Concerto, written just over a year later, as an affectionate and respectful acknowledgement of Clement's skills both as executant and composer. (Recently uncovered evidence suggests Clement's role in crafting the final version of Beethoven's violin concerto, published circa 1880, may have been greater than supposed. It seems altogether possible that the final published version resulted from their continuing collaboration). This concerto, published in the second half of 1806 or early months of 1807, was premiered at Clement's benefit concert in the Theatre and der Wien on April 7, 1805. The concerto which has only just emerged today from two centuries of obscurity, now compels with renewed admiration. It shows a degree of imagination, seriousness of purpose, and flair that is worthy of many a better known composer; it teems with felicitous ideas that sustain the listener's interest; the orchestration is exceptionally sensitive and colourful; and the assured handling of form and the subtle and varied harmonic style, rather more chro-matic than Beethoven's, reveal an individual and sensitive appreciation of the Classical style. It is the work of a musician whose extraordinary potential was never fulfilled. but it is not unworthy to stand beside the masterpiece (Beethoven’s Violin Concerto) he helped to inspire. (excerpts from the Album review by Clive Brown, Professor of Applied Musicology at the University of Leeds, UK)

Violin Concerto No. 2 in D minor

00:00​ I. Moderato 20:16​ II. Adagio 27:39​ III. Rondo : Allegro

Violin : Mirijam Contzen WDR Sinfonieorchester 

Reinhard Goebel Painting : Johan Christian Dahl - Two Views of Dresden by Moonlight

 

Beethoven became acquainted with Clement in 1794 when he attended a performance in Vienna by the prodigy, then just 14.

It was at the Theater an der Wien's benefit concert of April 7, 1805 that Beethoven first publicly conducted his Eroica symphony. At the same performance, Clement premiered his own violin concerto in D Major, one of Clement's six known violin concertos.

Clement went on to commission Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D major from his friend for the next benefit concert, given on December 23, 1806.[2] It is said that Beethoven worked on it up until shortly before the performance, and that Clement played the piece without rehearsing.

 

His works include, besides a number of compositions for violin and piano or orchestra, an offertorium "Ave, o rosa mistica"[4] published in 1848.