Caprice Study No. 2 - Pierre Rode

What is a study?

a composition specifically written to help improve or develop a certain aspect of technique or musical style

What does this study develop?

• strong detaché bowing with the use of accents or both up bow and down bows

• coordination between both hands especially with the crossing of strings

• playing of octaves and of difficult intervals especially in high positions.

When and where was he born?

born in 1774 in Bordeaux

When and where did he die?

died in 1830 in Bordeaux

What period was he from?

the Classical Period

When was the Classical period?

approx. 1750-1830

What was the Classical period?

• music was thought of harmonically

• emotional content of the music was kept in strict bounds by formal rules

• COMPOSERS: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert

Who was he?

a French violinist and composer

Whose pupil was he?

Viotti

Where was he professor of violin at?

Paris Consavatoire

Where and when was he a solo violinist?

at the Paris Opera until 1799

Who was he appointed violinist to?

Napoleon in 1800

When and where did he settle at?

St. Petersburg 1803-1808

Who wrote a violin sonata for him?

Beethoven wrote his Violin Sonata in G. Op.6 for Rode

How many violin concertos did he write?

13 violin concertos

How many etudes did he write?

12 etudes

How many caprices did he write?

24 caprices - one in every key

What is a caprice

a light, quick composition (according to the fancy of the performer)

What key is it in?

A minor

What form is it in?

a type of Rondo form ABACA (shortened)

What does allegretto mean

rather fast

What do tenuto lines mean?

a hold or lean on the note

What does restez mean?

remain in the same position

What time is it in?

6/8 - compound duple time

What does segue mean?

continuing on

Who else wrote 24 Caprices?

• Paganini

• J.S. Bach - Well tempered Klavier (48 preludes and fugues written in all 24 major and minor keys)