Servais and Léonard - 2me Grand Duo de Concert sur des thèmes de Beethoven (Urtext Edition)

The 2me Grand Duo de Concert sur des thèmes de Beethoven is the second published collaboration between François Servais and Hubert Léonard. The work was dedicated to Aleksey Petrovich Storozhenko (1806–1874), a Ukrainian writer, ethnographer, amateur cellist, and artist who was likely connected with Servais during the cellist’s 1852 visit to Kyiv.

The Duo opens with a dramatic introduction recalling the recitatives from the finale of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. A lyrical melody follows, built on the head motive from the finale of the Pastoral Symphony but newly composed by Léonard. The central section presents a theme and two variations on the second movement of the Kreutzer Sonata, transposed to C major to take advantage of the resonance of the open strings.

A transition leads to a mosaic of themes from Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, including a reimagining of the bird calls from the slow movement and a full statement from the finale. The work closes with a shortened version of the first movement of the Seventh Symphony. Carefully crafted as both a homage to Beethoven and a virtuosic concert work, the Duo gives both cello and violin brilliant, equal roles.

This set includes a performance score and separate parts.

ASTA Level: 6