Perpetual Motion

Description

Carl Bohm (1844-1920) was extremely well-known in his time and is almost completely forgotten today. He was one of the leading German composers of art songs after Schubert, and his Calm as the Night remains familiar. Like Schubert, he wrote prolifically in many genres, but his specialty was music in a lighter vein. His chamber music, mostly quartets and piano trios, was extremely popular with amateur players and also with professionals looking for a sure-fire audience pleaser. Bohm occupied an important musical position in his time: his publisher, Simrock, declared that the profits from his works paid for the publication of those of Brahms.

His Perpetual Motion comes from the third of at least six orchestral suites composed by Bohm. There are several other similar works in his other suites.

This arrangement is conceived as a unison solo for the entire violin section, which is encouraged to perform from memory, standing across the front of the orchestra or standing at their places. The second violin part provided is identical to the viola part and should not be used unless absolutely necessary to reinforce the violas.

The piece should be performed at a brisk but unrushed tempo, with the accompanying orchestral parts always dynamically beneath the solo violins.

Published by: String Instrument Specialists