The first movement starts with an unaccompanied presentation of the principal theme by the solo violin, composed of broad melodic intervals and rhythmic contour, in contrast with the jauntier second subject. Orchestra and soloist share the exploitation of this material, and after the solo cadenza the movement is brought to a quiet conclusion.
 
The second movement features an elegiac melodic subject. While this melody is the central feature of the movement, there is, by way of contrast, a brisk middle section based on rushing tetrachordal figures that are tossed back and forth between soloist and orchestra. The mood of the opening is always present, however, as the hurrying and playing about continue to be accompanied by hints of a return to the movement’s more introspective opening.
 
The finale begins with chiming chords of great dissonance from the orchestra, all of which pivot around a G that is constantly sounded by the trumpet. The solo part commences immediately on a journey of passagework in triple time that forms a kind of moto perpetuo that propels the movement. In rondo-like fashion, several melodies emerge until insistent intervals, borrowed from the first movement, form to make up the final lyrical passage “sung” by the solo violin. An excited coda, based on the triple-time figures, concludes the work.

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Duration: 31 minutes
Premiere Date: 1981