蜜芽传媒

Donald Macleod explores Max Bruch鈥檚 violin works.

Melody, said Bruch, represents the 鈥渟oul of music鈥� and nowhere is that better represented than in his famous violin concerto. It鈥檚 a work which brought him fame and fortune, but it鈥檚 also a work he came to hate, since he felt its popularity suppressed performances of his other compositions. It鈥檚 a sentiment that has some justification, since Bruch wrote some two hundred odd works, the majority of which are rarely performed. This week, Donald Macleod looks at Max Bruch鈥檚 prickly professional relationships, his feeling of being overshadowed by Brahms, and the instrument with which he had a very close affinity.

Music featured:
Adagio Appassionato
Septet
6 pieces for solo piano Op 12
Violin Concerto no 1 in G minor, Op 26
Swedish dances, Op 63
Symphony No 2
Sch枚n Ellen Op 24 for soprano, baritone and orchestra
Violin Concerto No 2 in D minor, Op 44
Bei den roten Rosen
Odysseus, Op 41
Scottish Fantasy
Kol nidrei Op 47
Symphony No 3
Romance in A minor, Op 42
Das Lied von der Glocke, Op 45
Violin concerto No 3
Eight pieces for clarinet, viola and piano, Op 83
Serenade, Op 75
String Octet in B flat major
Konzertst眉ck in F sharp minor, Op 84

Presented by Donald Macleod
Produced by Johannah Smith for 蜜芽传媒 Wales

For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Max Bruch:
/programmes/m0002gxf

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we鈥檝e featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z