Concerto Grosso No. 1 for String Orchestra and Piano Obbligato, B. 59 Cover Image

Concerto Grosso No. 1 for String Orchestra and Piano Obbligato, B. 59: String Orchestra, Conductor Score & Parts

$130.00 USD
$130.00 USD
Skip to product information
Concerto Grosso No. 1 for String Orchestra and Piano Obbligato, B. 59 Cover Image
Concerto Grosso No. 1 for String Orchestra and Piano Obbligato, B. 59: String Orchestra, Conductor Score & Parts

Concerto Grosso No. 1 for String Orchestra and Piano Obbligato, B. 59: String Orchestra, Conductor Score & Parts

By Ernest Bloch

Item: 36-A933590
$130.00
Shipped

One moment…

Related Items

Concerto Grosso No. 1 for String Orchestra and Piano Obbligato, B. 59: String Orchestra, Conductor Score

$30.00
View

Concerto Grosso No. 1 for String Orchestra and Piano Obbligato, B. 59: String Orchestra, Piano Part

$15.00
View
Description
Concerto Grosso No. 1 was the first of two concerti grossi by Swiss-American composer Ernest Bloch (1880-1959), who wrote the piece in response to his students' assertion that such traditional styles were no longer musically relevant. The piece generally follows Baroque structure while adding more modern and personal elements, including harmonies reminiscent of the Romantic era and a Swiss folk melody in the third movement, "Pastorale and Rustic Dances," that nods to Bloch's Jewish heritage. premiered in Cleveland, Ohio on May 29, 1925. Instrumentation: String Orchestra (8-8-5-5-5 in set) and Piano Obbligato. Movements: 1. Prelude; 2. Dirge; 3. Pastorale and Rustic Dances; 4. Fugue. Reprint edition. (23:00)

Concerto Grosso No. 1 for String Orchestra and Piano Obbligato, B. 59: String Orchestra, Conductor Score & Parts isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Pages

No sample pages found.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series: Kalmus Orchestra Library
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
UPC: 676737663797
SKU: 36-A933590
Instrumentation: String Orchestra (8-8-5-5-5 in set) and Piano Obbligato

More about this title

About the Composer: Ernest Bloch

Ernest Bloch (1880, 1959) was a Swiss-American composer who became a central figure in 20th-century concert music. He spent formative years in Europe before immigrating to the United States in 1916, where he taught at major institutions including the Cleveland Institute of Music and UC Berkeley. His compositional voice bridged the Romantic tradition with modern harmonic language, often incorporating Jewish liturgical themes and folk idioms that reflected his cultural identity.

Bloch wrote this Concerto Grosso at a pivotal moment in his career, directly addressing the challenge his students posed about the relevance of Baroque forms in contemporary music. Rather than abandon the form, he renewed it, proving that traditional structures could carry modern expression when infused with fresh harmonic vocabulary and personal musical material.

Why we love this

Bloch's response to his students' skepticism resulted in a work that teaches orchestration, form, and musical argument simultaneously. The piece balances architectural clarity with expressive depth, making it ideal for orchestras ready to explore 20th-century repertoire without abandoning structural discipline. The piano part adds a concertante dimension that elevates the texture and gives the ensemble something genuinely modern to hear.

What to expect

The piece inhabits a rich middle ground between past and present. Baroque structural logic meets impressionistic color; Swiss alpine plainness sits beside Jewish devotional longing. The four movements unfold like a spiritual journey, moving from prelude through grief, pastoral reflection, and finally intellectual resolution in the fugue.

Who it's for

Advanced string orchestras with solid ensemble skills and familiarity with early 20th-century harmonic language. A strong pianist comfortable with obbligato writing is essential. This work suits ensembles preparing for regional festivals or seeking a substantive concert anchor.

How to get the most out of it

  • Shape the Prelude's opening phrases with clear hierarchies between the concertino and ripieno sections; the dialogue between these forces drives the architecture.
  • Find the lyrical center in the Dirge rather than dwelling on its funereal character; Bloch's Romantic harmonies reward singers who sustain through phrase arcs.
  • Balance the Swiss folk melody in the Pastorale so it emerges from the orchestral fabric without overwhelming it; this is material your audience will remember.
  • Maintain rhythmic precision in the Fugue subject while allowing the counterpoint to breathe; technical clarity and musical warmth must coexist.

How to use it

Pair this with Baroque concertos to show how Bloch inherited and transformed the genre, or program it alongside other early modernists exploring neo-classical forms. The 23-minute span makes it substantial enough to stand as the evening's centerpiece or to anchor a curated theme about tradition and innovation.

Skills your students will build

  • Baroque form recognition and how modern composers adapted it
  • Balancing concertino and ripieno textures
  • Reading and intonating Romantic-era chromaticism within a Classical framework
  • Ensemble communication across four movements with contrasting characters
  • Responding to harmonic language that blends tonal and impressionistic elements

You May Also Like