REPRINT SERIES
The Six Humoresques, Opp. 87 and 89, are concertante compositions for violin and orchestra written from 1917 to 1918 by the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. Despite spanning two opus numbers (due to publishing technicalities), the composer—who originally considered calling the humoresques Impromptus or Lyrical Dances—intended them as a suite. They are:
Humoresque No. 1 in D minor, Op. 87/1 (Commodo)
Humoresque No. 2 in D major, Op. 87/2 (Allegro assai)
Humoresque No. 3 in G minor, Op. 89/1 (Alla gavotta)
Humoresque No. 4 in G minor, Op. 89/2 (Andantino)
Humoresque No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 89/3 (Commodo)
Humoresque No. 6 in G minor, Op. 89/4 (Allegro)
The Six Humoresques premiered on 24 November 1919 in Helsinki, with Sibelius conducting the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra; the soloist was the Russian-Finnish-American violinist Paul Cherkassky.
The Humoresque No. 1 is scored for the following instruments:
Soloist: violin
Woodwinds: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets (in B♭), and 2 bassoons
Brass: 2 horns (in F)
Percussion: timpani
Strings: violins, violas, cellos, and double basses
The Humoresque No. 2 has identical scoring, except for the omission of the entire woodwind section. The Op. 89 pieces are even more delicately scored. In addition to the soloist, Humoresques Nos. 3 and 4 utilize strings only. No. 5 adds to this scoring three woodwinds: 2 flutes, 2 clarinets (in B♭), and 2 bassoons, while No. 6 omits the clarinets but retains the flutes and bassoons.
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate/Advanced
- Instrumentation (if playing all 6):
- 2 Fl, 2Ob, 2Cl, 2Bsn, 2Hn, Timp, Solo Vln, Strings
- Duration:
- ca. 21 minutes
- Set of Parts:
- Includes Strings count 4.4.3.3.2, Soloist part included
- Extra Strings:
- Only available with the purchase of the Set of Parts
- Product Type:
- REPRINT SERIES