Rode, Pierre (1774-1830)

Rode's Violin Concerto No. 9 in C major was written during his four-year Russian sojourn and is dedicated to "Monsieur le Compte Ilinsky, Privy Councillor, Chamberlain and Senator of His Majesty the Emperor of All the Russias". The opening Moderato movement begins fortissimo in the orchestra. The soloist's entrance is the usual dramatic flourish: half notes followed by sixteenths (semiquavers), followed by double-stopped dotted eighths (quavers) and sixteenths (semiquavers). The opening material includes double stops, a relative rarity in Rode, and also of interest is an additional orchestral tutti in the development/contrasting section. The Cavatina, marked Un poco adagio, begins in the orchestra with alternate fortissimo and pianissimo chords that resolve into a dolce theme. The soloist enters with a highly ornamented dolce theme of its own; this is elaborated and spun into other motifs. The central section features "all on a string" playing on the sonorous g string before the return of the main cavatina melody, now with slightly different embellishment. The Allegretto finale in 2/4 time is a prime example of Rode's sparkling energetic finales-a steady stream of sixteenth notes (semiquavers), varied with contrasting sections, that bring the concerto to a merry end.