Concerto for Group and Orchestra

The Concerto for Group and Orchestra is a concerto composed by Jon Lord in 1968.

Musical Form

The Concerto for Group and Orchestra displays some characteristics of as well the concerto grosso, the sinfonia concertante, and the concerto for orchestra genres:

Related Topics:
Concerto grosso - Sinfonia concertante - Concerto for orchestra

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• First movement (Moderato - Allegro): after an elaborate orchestral introduction the Group and the Orchestra work as separate blocks, trying to get dominance over the main theme - this opposition of a group of soloists against an orchestra is quite "concerto grosso" style. +
• Second movement (Andante), with lyrics sung by Ian Gillan: here the group integrates more with the sound of the orchestra while still clearly on top of the orchestral tissue, giving a sinfonia concertante look and feel. +
• Third movement (Vivace - Presto): apart from Ian Paice's drum solo, the music is so tighly knit that the distinction between the group and the orchestra is almost lifted: in a way the group becomes part of an extended orchestra, with one elaborate "solo" passage, by an instrument that is no soloist throughout the movement, giving a concerto touch: this is more or less what is understood by the Concerto for Orchestra genre.