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Should anyone ever think of sitting down and totting up all the instrumental concertos ever composed, the piano would surely head the table, followed by the violin and then, perhaps, the cello. Those three instruments don\u2019t always take the spotlight, however. A quick look online reveals that nearly every instrument of the orchestra has had at least one concerto written for it, as composers great and small relish getting to grips with various timbres and techniques, plus testing their soloists\u2019 skills to the limit. <\/p>
Today\u2019s top composers continue to explore new avenues \u2013 Gabriel Prokofiev\u2019s Concerto for Turntables, for instance, is a relatively recent addition to the repertoire while Mark Simpson is currently composing an electric guitar concerto. Here, however, we present ten of the more eyebrow-raising concertos to have been performed and recorded over years gone by.<\/p>
Our survey begins in the 18th century with Johann Albrechtsberger, teacher of Beethoven. The Austrian wrote not just one concerto for Jew\u2019s harp, mandora (a type of lute) and strings but at least seven, four of which survive to this day. Though the twangy sound of the Jew\u2019s harp \u2013 produced by vibrating a metal strip (the \u2018lamella\u2019) in front of the mouth \u2013 can sound a little comical to modern ears, it was an important instrument in Austrian folk music at the time and the best players were highly respected. Albrechtsberger\u2019s concertos were no gimmicks.<\/p>
Recommended recording:Fritz Mayr (Jew\u2019s harp); Munich CO\/Stadlmair Orfeo<\/i> C035821A<\/i><\/strong><\/p>