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Allegro Brillant Op.

19
(Willem Ten Have)
Willem Ten Have (1831-1924) was a Dutch violinist and composer from the romantic period.
He was born in Amsterdam, and studied with the great Belgian violinist Charles de Briot.
He moved to France, where he taught in Lyon, and later lived in Paris. Ten Haves
compositions for violin include Bolero Op. 11, Allegro Brillant Op. 19 , Capriccio Op. 24 and
Concerto in D Op. 30.
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Allegro Brillant was published in 1893. The title indicates a fast, facile piece, where the main
interest is created by flamboyant gestures, superficial decoration and virtuosic passage-work
rather than by any profound musical expression.
The main key is A major, and the formal structure is free.
b.1-13 Piano introduction, all in A major, ending with a perfect cadence.
13-37 First theme, mostly in A major.
13-16 A major, ending with a perfect cadence.
17-20 Modulating to E major (the dominant key), ending with a perfect cadence.
21-24 A major then D major (the subdominant key), ending with a perfect cadence.
25-37 All in A major, with some diminished 7th chords in b.29-30, ending with a
perfect cadence.
37-56 Second theme, beginning in A major, transitional in character.
37-44 All in A major.
45-49 F major (b.45-46) then D minor (the subdominant minor key).
50-56 A minor (the tonic minor key, b.50-51) then E minor (dominant minor).
57-89 Third theme, Poco meno mosso, mostly in E major (dominant), with modulations to
B major in b.63-64, 71-72 and 63-64, each ending with a perfect cadence. Remains in
E major from b.81, ending with a perfect cadence.
89-108 Second theme, now beginning in E major. Shifts to E minor in b.91-92 and 95-96,
C major in b.97-98 and A minor from b.99.
109-127 Third theme, now in A major, ending with a perfect cadence.
127-145 Coda, all in A major, using mostly tonic and dominant chords.
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For further informartion, see www.tonmus.com/tenhave.html, which cites research by Gloria Schroeder.
Copyright 2010 by R. A. Hamilton. These notes may not be photocopied. www.rosshamilton.com.au
Allegro moderato means at a moderately fast speed.
largamente means broadly.
a tempo means return to the former speed.
Pi mosso means quicker (i.e. more movement).
poco rit[enuto] means hold back the speed a little.
Poco meno mosso means a little slower.
ritard[ando] means gradually becoming slower.
A pause or fermata (U) means hold for longer than the written value.
Op[us] means a work or group of works; the opus number is used to identify a piece.
The stylistic characteristics of this piece include:
sweet (inclining towards sentimental) melodies.
regular 4 or 8-bar phrases.
conventional harmonies and modulations, with some use of chromaticism.
frequent changes of tempo, and some use of tempo rubato at the performers discretion.
Copyright 2010 by R. A. Hamilton. These notes may not be photocopied. www.rosshamilton.com.au

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