Concerto Grosso No. 1 (Schnittke)

Concerto Grosso No. 1
Concerto Grosso No. 1
by Alfred Schnittke
Style	Polystylism
Composed	1976–1977
Dedication	Gidon Kremer, Tatiana Grindenko, and Saulius Sondeckis
Duration	about 28 minutes
Movements	Six
Scoring	two solo violins, string chamber orchestra, harpsichord, and prepared piano
Premiere
Date	21 March 1977
Location	Leningrad
Conductor	Eri Klas
Performers	Gidon Kremer and Tatiana Grindenko (violins), Yuri Smirnov (keyboard instruments), and the Leningrad Chamber Orchestra

The Concerto Grosso No. 1 was the first of six concerti grossi by Soviet composer Alfred Schnittke. It was written in 1976–1977 at the request of Gidon Kremer and Tatiana Grindenko who were also the violin soloists at its premiere on 21 March 1977 in Leningrad together with Yuri Smirnov on keyboard instruments and the Leningrad Chamber Orchestra under Eri Klas.^[1] It is one of the best-known of Schnittke's polystylistic compositions and marked his break-through in the West.^[2]

^ Schnittke 2002, p. 44.
^ Ivashkin 2009.

[FOOTNOTESchnittke200244-1] Schnittke 2002, p. 44.

[FOOTNOTEIvashkin2009-2] Ivashkin 2009.

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