Download or read book The Two Cello Concertos of Victor Herbert written by Mon Yun Amy Hsieh and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 236 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abstract: n the early years of the twentieth century, Victor Herbert (1859-1924) was one of the most talented and versatile composers in American music. Although Herbert's 'serious' instrumental music had not surpassed his 'light' operettas, his 'serious' vein had been the main focus of his life up until 1894. As an artistic cellist, Herbert composed a large number of cello works, among which I will focus on his two cello concertos: Concerto Op. 8 and Concerto Op. 30. In the history of the cello concerto, Herbert's two concertos certainly stand as an influential monument for his fellow composers, especially his Concerto Op. 30, which inspired Dvorak to write his Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104. These two concertos show his distinguished compositional style and ability in 'serious' music. Continuing the stream of the classical concerto, the Concerto Op. 8 consists of a conventional three-movement frame and each movement displays a traditional formal structure. On the other hand, the Concerto Op. 30 follows the late Romantic style with its one-movement form, its cyclic elements and thematic transformations that fuse three distinctive movements into one, and most of all, its symphonic orchestration. This study begins with an overview of Herbert's life, his cello works, and his professional career as a composer, a performing cellist, a conductor and an advocate for musician's rights. In the next two chapters offer a detailed analysis of Herbert's Concerto Op. 8 and Concerto Op. 30 respectively, including the historical background, the theoretical concepts of form, the tonal structure, the development of elements, and author's performance practice suggestions. A list of Herbert's Cello Compositions and important recordings are in Appendixes A and B respectively. Unfortunately, the powerful, vigorous, lyrical, passionate and dramatic qualities of Herbert's serious compositions have been ignored by present critics, conductors, performers and audience. I hope this study will bring Herbert's two cello concertos to another triumph since their first premieres in the twenty-first century's music world.