Cello Songs After the War in Elgar's Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
II. Lento – Allegro molto
Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85
I'm Elgar, and I'm happy to explain the second movement of my Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85, the Lento – Allegro molto. In just 4½ minutes, the shortest movement of the four, you'll follow a slow, hesitant opening as it gives way to a quick, light dash, a contrast that is easy to notice. Should you want to recognize our music the moment it starts, my fellow composers and I help you do it on this site, so put yourself to the test .
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Follow the Cello, Ignore the Dress Code
I'd like you to keep your ears on the solo cello, because in this movement it is the one voice that always has something to say. The strings, woodwinds and brass around it are there to answer, to support and sometimes to step back, so you can treat them as a backdrop that keeps changing colour. Notice who is leading at each moment: when the cello is in front, listen to its line, and when the orchestra comes forward, listen for how the cello reacts. You don't need any musical vocabulary for this, only the habit of asking yourself whether the music is holding still or moving along.Two Italian Words and a Change of Mind
I gave this movement the marking Lento – Allegro molto because those words tell the performers, in order, what I want to happen. Lento means slow and unhurried, and Allegro molto means very fast and lively, so the title is really a small plan for the whole movement. I like markings that are honest like that, because they promise a change of pace and then actually deliver one. Since the movement lasts only about 4½ minutes, the change comes soon, and you'll be glad to know what the title meant when it arrives.A Shape Without a Fancy Name
Choosing the form for this movement was an adventure of its own, and I decided not to squeeze it into a label like sonata or rondo. What I will say is that it follows its two markings, with a slow opening part and then a fast one, and that's the layout I'd like you to hold in your head. I'll touch on those sections only briefly here, because I want to go through each of them one by one in the next two paragraphs. It makes for a short but eventful exploration, so stay with me.Section 1: Slowly Tiptoeing Into the Room
The Lento comes first, and it asks everyone to take their time, so the mood is searching and a little unsettled rather than comfortable. Listen to how the cello moves in short, hesitant steps, as though it were testing each note before trusting it. The orchestra stays soft and watchful underneath, which leaves the cello plenty of space to wander. Because nothing here is in a hurry, this section works like a held breath, and you may find yourself waiting for something to break it.Section 2: The Sprint Begins
Then the Allegro molto arrives, and the mood changes at once from hesitation to quick, nimble energy. The cello now races along in fast, light passages, and the orchestra has to keep up with it. I don't mean this as a cheerful romp, because there is an edge of restlessness in the speed that keeps the music from ever feeling carefree. Together the two sections tell a short story of uncertainty turning into motion, and the movement ends before that motion has time to tire.Over to You and the Play Button
Now I invite you to hear this movement for yourself, so press play and let the music carry you along. While you listen, keep in mind what we talked about: the cello leading the way, the slow part giving way to the fast one, and the short running time. You don't have to catch everything on the first listen, because the movement is short enough to play again straight away. I hope you enjoy the journey through it as much as I enjoyed writing it.---
I hope you enjoyed learning about the listen guide of my Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85, and its second movement, the Lento – Allegro molto. It's a short movement, only about 4½ minutes, but I think it leaves more behind than its length would suggest. Once you've heard the cello restless and searching, the other movements of the concerto feel like a quiet answer to it. There's still a good deal more to explore in the Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85. You could listen to the slow, sorrowful Adagio that follows, or to the long final movement, and notice how the mood settles as the work goes on. I wrote the concerto in 1919, when the world felt very different, and many people have found their own meaning in it since. If you'd like to go further, please click on the links provided and carry on exploring the concerto at your own pace. I'd be glad to have you back with me for another listen.