Books › An Encyclopedia of the Violin, 1925 › scan 289
Scan 289
An Encyclopedia of the Violin, 1925
22 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 261. See the scan on archive.org.
1THE SYMPHONIE ESPAGNOLE
3by Edouard Lalo, Op. 21
4(1823-1892)
6The violinist who has a real understanding of the resources of his instrument, knows that Lalo's "Symphonie Espagnole" is a work extremely rich in effect, and the reason why it is such a favorite on the concert program will be found in the possibility it offers for virtuoso display which is at the same time thoroughly musical.
8Are we to consider it a symphony in the accepted meaning of the word? Discounting agreement with the exact rules of form, in our opinion it deserves its title in the broader sense; since it is a work of serious beauty and lofty musical architecture, as well as full of charm and vigor.
101
11Allegro Non Troppo
13Declaim the theme with firmness and decision. The accent on the C sharp should not be too greatly prolonged. The first measure in tempo is decidedly characteristic and very complicated, since it presents the problem of playing groups of three and of two notes as equal units of time—
15a figuration often found in Spanish music—with sufficient ease and lack of effort to produce a truly musical effect. Such groups are often played in the following manner:
17This, of course, is a gross error. The following measure,
19is a complicated one to play. In every important work of the violin repertory we find two or three redoubtable passages: in the "Symphonie Espagnole" the measure cited above is a nightmare to many a violinist.
21It may be made less difficult by playing the whole measure with a single bow stroke, and by accenting each individual G.
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