Violin Concerto in D Major by Mozart, 1st Movement
During a lesson on the Mozart D Major concerto a senior student asked, “What stage of the Suzuki violin program does this concerto represent?” Perhaps because it’s the 10th and last of the regular Suzuki volumes, she was surprised at the reply. “Äbout half way.”
The intention of the little joke was to try to gently undo her concepts of musical stages and destinations. A great delight of music and indeed of all of the arts, is its limitless quality. There’s always more musical wonders to discover and create. No final destination – and in truth, no half way point.
Beyond questions of stages and levels with this concerto, students experience the revelation of conversing with Mozart through playing his music. Learning the two Mozart concertos in Volumes 9 and 10 transforms everything you know and feel about violin music and it makes you want to listen to and play his creations for the rest of your life.
In his autobiographical book, Nurtured by Love, Suzuki describes losing feeling in his arms during a performance of Mozart’s music. I can understand why. On several occasions I’ve experienced electric waves of astonishment at the creative imagination of Mozart’s melodies. Why does his music sound so unpredictable, right and lovely?
Violin Concerto in D Major by Mozart, 1st Movement
Mozart wrote the D major concerto K.218 when he was 19 years old, already a mature composer (and beyond half way!). Amazingly, he composed K. 211, 216, 218 and 219 within a few months, between June and December 1775, revising them a few years later for his friend, violinist Antonio Brunetti.